Reducing detrimental sulfate-based phase formation in concrete exposed to sodium chloride using supplementary cementitious materials

Abstract

The sodium chloride (NaCl) can chemically interact with the monosulfate (AFm) within the concrete matrix, leading to a detrimental sulfate-based phase formation during thermal cycling. This paper studies the potential of reducing the sulfate-based phase in the cementitious pastes made using different types of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) used as a partial replacement of ordinary portland cement (OPC). A low-temperature differential scanning calorimetry was used to quantify the amount of the sulfate-based phase. The results indicated that the addition of SCMs as a partial replacement of OPC revealed different effects on forming the sulfate-based phase through pozzolanic activities and/or dilution effects. The addition of slag or class F fly ash can lower the formation of the sulfate-based phase through the dilution effect, while the addition of silica fume can substantially lower the formation of the sulfate-based phase by both dilution and pozzolanic activities. The use of class C fly ash, however, showed negative effects through increasing the formation of the sulfate-based phase. Thermodynamic modeling was used to predict the phase equilibrium of hydrated cementitious systems. Results from thermodynamic predictions were in agreement with the experimental results, indicating that the formation of the sulfate-based phase was associated with the amount of AFm present in the cementitious systems.