The master thesis discusses the alkali-activation of aluminosilicate material (metakaolin), specifies the main components of geopolymer mixture, evaluates the influence of geopolymer mixture composition and the influence of other factors on final properties of geopolymer. Results of the mechanical properties and microstructure of the geopolymer pastes made out of metakaolin activated by various amounts (50–110 % by weight of metakaolin) of liquid water glass (with varying modulus from 0,5 to 3,0) or NaOH as well as KOH solution are presented in the experimental part.

Geopolymers are amorphous to semi-crystalline aluminosilicate polymers which are formed from inorganic polycondensation reaction of a solid aluminosilicate precursor with an alkaline sodium hydroxide or silicate. The resulting materials exhibit high durability, resistance to aggressive environments, high temperature resistance and many other properties that make them have received much attention in recent years, not only in construction. This thesis describes the influence of additives commonly used in concrete and mortar (water reducing, superplasticizer, air-entraining, foamer and defoamer, anti-shrinkage, stabilization) on the behavior of metakaolin in geopolymer fresh and hardened state. It describes metakaolin geopolymer effect on rheological properties of fresh mixtures, compressive strength and flexural strength after 28 days and a density in the fresh and hardened state.

Considering increasing manufacture of metallic materials made in foundries increases also production of waste foundry sands. Foundry sands that remain after moulding and can not be reused in the prouction process anymore are usually not recycled nowadays and in the better cases they are clasified as a fill materials. These secondary raw materials are produced in relatively big amounts. Thats why is apropriate to search for their effective reuse. One of the possibilities is using of this materials in buliding industry. Thanks to their constitution and properties we can consider the possibilties of an alkaline activation, additional source to alkalit activated systems or like part of refractories.