Abstract: For activating coal gangue in a more efficient and safer way to produce the qualified geopolymer for construction，alkaline dry powder activator made of sodium hydroxide and calcium carbonate powder is used to replace hydroxide solution to treat coal gangue，fly ash and sand.Factors affecting the characteristics of the geopolymer of coal gangue activated by alkaline dry powder were studied，which is contrasted with that of the traditional sodium hydroxide solution.The results showed that：①Elevating curing temperature and increasing the dosage of sodium hydroxide in dry powder accelerated the setting and hardening of the geopolymer.②Elevating curing temperature increased water absorption and compressive strength of the specimen.③The increase of calcium carbonate in dry powder raised water absorption rate and compressive strength of geopolymer specimen.④When sodium hydroxide amount in dry powder reached 3%，geopolymer specimen with lowest water absorption rate and highest compressive strength w as obtained.⑤Whether from the viewpoints of water absorption rate or compressive strength，the effect of dry powder activator outperforms that of sodium hydroxide solution activator.Thus，dry powder activator is more suitable for preparing coal gangue-based geopolymer than sodium hydroxide solution activator.

Key words: Geopolymer, Alkaline dry powder activator, Coal gangue, Fly ash, Curing temperature