The long-term failure mechanisms of alkali-activated slag mortar exposed to wet-dry cycles of sodium sulphate. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Qing; Li, Xinyuan; Yang, Kai; Zhu, Xiaohong; Gevaudan, Juan Pablo; Yang, Changhui; Basheer, Muhammed
• Is Part Of: Cement & concrete composites. Volume 116(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Alkali-activated slag material -- Deterioration -- Crystallisation and dissolving stress -- Sulphate attack -- Wetting and drying cycles; Composite-reinforced concrete -- Periodicals; Concrete -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composites de ciment -- Périodiques; Béton -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Béton léger -- Périodiques; Cement composites; Composite materials; Composite-reinforced concrete; Concrete; Lightweight concrete; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103893
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-9465

Abstract

Abstract: This study investigates the long-term (570 days) performance of alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar exposed to combined wet-dry cycles and sodium sulphate solutions (i.e. 5 wt% and 10 wt%). Physical and mechanical characteristics of AAS mortars (i.e. visual appearance, compressive/flexural strength, mass change, capillary porosity, water sorptivity) as well as mineralogical and chemical parameters were determined using XRD, FTIR, DSC and BSE. Findings were compared to Portland cement (PC) and high sulphate resistant (HSR) samples. Results indicate that AAS mortars perform better than PC and HSR samples with minimal changes to compressive strength at 570 days (1.7% increasement). The main failure mode for AAS mortar was external spalling, which could be due to the crystallisation/dissolving pressure of sodium sulphate. Moreover, the results indicate key differences in the deterioration mechanism of AAS. Unreacted slag, exposed during sodium sulphate attack under wet-dry cycles, can continue to react in sodium sulphate to form silicon-rich gels. The formation of highly siliceous gel regions has beneficial impacts, such as the increase in flexural strength. While no calcium sulphate phases were detected via XRD and FTIR after 570 days of exposure, it is evident that the molecular changes in the microstructure reveal depolymerisation and enhanced formation of Si–O phases after long-term sodium sulphate exposure. These results are important to understand the long-term degradation mechanisms of AAS materials exposed to sodium sulphate under wet-dry cycles.