Study of Fine-Grained Composites Exposed to Sulfuric Acid and Sodium Sulfate

Abstract

The degradation of concrete due to ingress of sulfate ions from the environment plays an important role in the durability of concrete constructions, especially in sewage collection systems where concrete sewer pipes are exposed to sulfates from waste water and from biogenic activity of bacteria. During this process the pH of the surface of concrete sewer pipes is reduced and it may lead to the steel depassivation and results in the corrosion of steel reinforcement. Damage due to sulfate interaction can result in the cracking and softening, with loss of strength of concrete. This paper is focused on the sulfate attack on fine-grained concrete where the effect of one-year contact of 0.5% H2SO4, and 5% Na2SO4 on changes of pH and content of sulfates in 7 types of concrete has been analyzed. It was found that after one year of sulfate attack on concrete, significant growth of content of sulfates is observed in the lowermost layer of the samples. Samples treated by 5% Na2SO4 contain slightly more sulfates in the upper layers than samples treated by sulfuric acid. The reduction in pH of aqueous leaches occurred in all layers of the samples. However, even in the lower layers of the samples, the reduction of pH below 9.5 did not turn up (except for SRS sample), and thus the conditions for the depassivation of reinforcement were not met.