The Cement Type Effect on Freeze – Thaw and Deicing Salt Resistance of Concrete

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effect of the four types of cement (Portland cement, blast-furnace Portland cement, limestone Portland cement and blast-furnace cement) on freeze-thaw and deicing salt resistance of concrete. Eight compositions of concrete with different cements were tested. Four compositions contained hydration retarder added at 0.3 wt% and 0.5 wt% by mass of cement and four compositions were without the retarder. All compositions contained 0.6 wt% of superplasticizer. 3% NaCl solutions was used as a freezing agent in freeze-thaw tests. The mass loss (the weight of scaled material), ultrasonic pulse velocity and residual deformations were measured every seven freeze-thaw cycle. The test results showed that the highest freeze-thaw and deicing salt resistance is observed in concrete made of blast-furnace cement (CEM III/B 32.5N - LH) and the lowest freeze-thaw resistance is observed in concrete made of Portland cement (CEM I 42.5 R) and Portland blast – furnace cement (CEM II/A-S 42.2N). Cement hydration retarder was found to have a negative effect on freeze-thaw and deicing salt resistance of concrete.