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Alkali activated materials (AAMs), also known as geopolymers, have been proposed as lower carbon footprint alternative cementitious materials to ordinary portland cement (OPC). Geopolymers are formed from an aluminosilicate precursor, such as fly ash, mixed with an alkaline activating solution. These materials may have self-healing behavior, which makes them promising materials for applications where controlling crack widths is critical, such as in well bores or steel-reinforced concrete structures. In this study, the self-healing ability of a Class F fly ash-based geopolymer was investigated using a pressure transmission test (PTT) to measure the initial permeability of the material, the permeability after damage using freeze-thaw cycling to initiate cracks, and the permeability following post-damage curing to encourage self-healing. The geopolymer was found to have low permeability, 0.26 ± 0.09 µD at 28 days, which is comparable to reported values for OPC. The permeability increased after damage, but then decreased again after the self-healing curing period. The results show an inverse correlation between the level of initial damage and the level of permeability restoration upon self-healing. This work indicates that geopolymers can indeed self-heal cracks to reduce damage, suggesting that they are promising barrier materials for well construction and other applications.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from combustion processes have elevated concentrations in large urban areas. They cause a range of adverse health effects, acid rain, and are precursors to formation of other atmospheric pollutants, such as ozone, peroxyacetyl nitrate, and inorganic aerosols. Photocatalytic materials containing a semi-conductor that can be activated by sunlight, such as titanium dioxide, have been studied for their ability to remove NOx. The study presented herein aims to elucidate the environmental parameters that most influence the NOx removal efficiency of photocatalytic coatings in hot and humid climate conditions. Concrete samples coated with a commercially available photocatalytic coating (a stucco) and an uncoated sample have been tested in a reactor simulating reasonable summertime outdoor sunlight, relative humidity and temperature conditions in southeast Texas. Two-level full factorial experiments were completed on each sample for five parameters. It was found that contact time, relative humidity and temperature significantly influenced both NO and NO2removal. Elevated concentrations of organic pollutants reduced NO removal by the coating. Ultra-violet light intensity did not significantly influence removal of NO or NO2, however, ultra-violet light intensity was involved in a two-factor interaction that significantly influenced removal of both NO and NO2.Implications: The potential for removal of oxides of NOxin realistic outdoor conditions by a photocatalytic coating (a stucco) applied on concrete was studied through full factorial experimentation. Results suggest that locations offering longer contact time between the pollutant and the reactive surface would lead to greater removal. The presence of elevated relative humidity reduces the NOxremoval effectiveness of the coating. Concentrations of organic pollutants in the vicinity of the material did not significantly influence its removal effectiveness, making it potentially suitable as a control strategy for NO2near roadways, where elevated NO2levels are observed in combination with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).