المجلة الدولية للعلوم والتقنية

This study aimed to apply the Taguchi method to investigate the main factors affecting the compressive strength of the calcination kaolin-based alkali-activated mortars. The efficiency of the calcination temperatures of kaolin at 650 °C (Metakaolin, MK650) (as the source material) in producing alkali-activated mortar products was enhanced via four factors which were optimized using the Taguchi method L09. Four primary factors were examined following a statistical study of the initial silica modules (sodium silicate; Na2SiO3) (Ms) (designed as A); the NaOH concentration (moles) “B”; the Na2SiO3 to NaOH weight ratio “C”; and the alkaline-activator to solid material weight ratio “D”. Each factor was examined at the three levels in order to obtain the optimum mixture. Nine mixtures were prepared per theL09 array proposed by the method. The performance of the specimens was evaluated by compressive strength (CS) tests. The results show that the optimum mixture consisted of A2B2C3D2 which achieved a CS of 62.86 MPa after 28 days of curing. The results show that the main binding phases consist of aluminosilicate type gel (N–A–S–H) and calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) gels, formed simultaneously, withinthe Metakaolin-based alkali-activated mortar. Keywords: Alkaline activated mortars, Calcination Kaolin, Compressive strength, Taguchi method.