Durability properties of sustainable alkali-activated cementitious materials as marine engineering material: A review

Abstract

Traditional cement and concrete production consumes huge amounts of natural resources and energy, and has a great impact on the ecological environment. Alkali-activated cementitious material (AACM) is an eco-friendly new material that can utilize industrial solid wastes and have low environmental load and energy consumption. AACM has excellent performance in corrosion resistance, thermal stability and strength due to its special three-dimensional network dense structure. In particular, the excellent corrosion resistance and weather resistance of AACM are urgently needed by marine engineering and construction, and it has huge use value and application potential in the field of marine engineering materials. This article reviews the research progress on the durability of sustainable AACM as marine engineering materials from the aspects of the reaction mechanism, microstructure, corrosion resistance, and marine engineering applications. In this work, the alkali-activated mechanism and microstructure of different AACM systems are analyzed. The permeability, sulfate corrosion resistance, steel corrosion resistance and alkali-aggregate reaction, shrinkage and carbonization resistance of AACM-based concrete in the marine environment are summarized. The application potential of AACM as marine structures, coatings and marine soil curing binders in marine engineering was further discussed. Moreover, the feasibility of using seawater and sea sand for AACM-based concrete in the construction of islands and reefs is explored. Finally, several research directions urgently needed for AACM as marine engineering materials are proposed.