Thermal treatment of Kalabsha kaolin deposits, south of the Western Desert, Egypt: contribution to geopolymer production as green building materials

Abstract Kaolin samples were collected to study the mineralogical, texture, chemical composition, thermal behavior, and treatment also possibility convert kaolinite mineral into metakaolin use it as a natural pozzolanic and/or geopolymer materials. Kaolinite is main constituent of clay mineral, which related many weathering parent rocks complete leaching alkali elements under warm, humid semi-arid climatic conditions. However, quartz, anatase, iron oxide are considered non-clay minerals. Cement substituted by different ratios in concrete industry was carried out enhance physical mechanical properties concrete. The best results detected at 10% 15% cement replacement metakaolin. Geopolymer production using Metakaolin (MK) mixed with NaOH Na 2 O-3SiO replace Portland obtained suitable match green building material concept.