Impact of de‐icing salts on freeze‐thaw resistance of low‐clinker concretes

Abstract

AbstractDe‐icing salts are commonly used in moderate climate zone, where concrete is subjected to freeze‐thaw cycles during winter times. The presence of de‐icing salts requires appropriate frost‐thaw resistance of concrete, which is challengingin case of low‐clinker concretes. Proper air‐entrainment of the concrete mix, which is one of the main factors affecting the frost resistance of concrete is not a simple task. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly improve the process of air‐entrainment of the concrete mix and to constantly control the effectiveness and quality of concrete aeration especially those with low clinker cements. In the paper effect of de‐icing salts on air‐entrained by polymer microspheres and traditional air‐entraining admixtures low clinker concrete was evaluated. The conducted tests indicate that low‐clinker concretes made with the use of polymer microspheres, despite greater repeatability in shaping the correct air‐entrainment structure, are characterized by lower resistance to frost in the presence of de‐icing salts compared to traditionally air‐entrained concretes. This mechanism will be investigated in future work.