High-performance eco-friendly ternary blended green concrete in seawater environment

Abstract

The use of blended green concrete with improved performance has significantly increased in the industrial sector owing to the CO2 gas emissions and carbon footprint caused by the production of ordinary Portland cement. Although improvements have been continuously made, the deterioration of concrete structures in seawater poses a serious concern. The long term performance of green concretes in seawater environment are scarcely studied. Here we report the long-term strength, durability and anti-fouling properties of a novel blended eco-friendly concrete made with ordinary Portland cement, fly ash, nanoparticles, and corrosion inhibitor in natural seawater for one year. The mechanical strength, alkalinity, free chloride concentrations, biofouling attachment, and total viability count are studied. After a year of exposure to seawater, the ternary blended green concrete showed improved mechanical strength, a significantly lower chloride penetration and water penetration depth, a 70% reduction in free chloride content, a high calcium silicate hydrate content, and a four-order reduction in the total biomass. Our results suggest that the new concrete mix is promising for applications in seawater environments because of its improved mechanical properties, durability, and biofouling resistance.