Durability of concrete containing chloride-based accelerating admixtures

Abstract

The influence of CaCl2 or a chloride-based accelerating admixture on the freeze–thaw resistance of concrete was evaluated. Three air entrained mix designs were investigated using ASTM C666-84, Standard Test Method for Resistance of Concrete to Rapid Freezing and Thawing. All mix designs were similar, using cement contents of 340–357 kg/m3 of concrete, except for the addition of either 2% calcium chloride or 2% High Early Pozzolith, while no accelerating admixture was added to the control mix. The entire test program was repeated four times with water-to-cement ratio of 0.46 and three times with the ratio of 0.43. For the Pozzolith-accelerated concrete, half the samples were coated with boiled linseed oil in all seven series. For the control (unaccelerated) concrete, half the samples were coated with boiled linseed oil in one series for each water-to-cement ratio. Performance was monitored using the dynamic modulus of elasticity as obtained from transverse resonant frequency measurements. Weight loss of the specimens was also measured. Only the control samples (no accelerators) showed sufficient durability to satisfy the standard of maintaining at least 60% of the original dynamic modulus after 300 cycles of alternate freezing and thawing. Sealing with linseed oil showed inconsistent improvement in the durability in the various test series when defined in terms of the dynamic modulus; however, weight losses were the lowest of all categories and surface scaling was minimal. Key words: concrete, durability, freeze–thaw testing, calcium chloride, admixtures, sealants, air void system.