Low-temperature thermal activation of diabase tailings-based geopolymers: orthogonal design and structural mechanisms

Diabase tailings–based geopolymers (DTG) were investigated through stepwise low-temperature activation at 100 °C, 200 °C, and 300 °C to assess their potential as sustainable, high toughness binders. However, the intrinsically low reactivity of diabase tailings, combined with the high energy demand required for conventional thermal activation, has posed a major barrier to their efficient large-scale utilization in geopolymer systems. A three-factor, four-level orthogonal design was implemented to