The influence of lithium compounds on alkali – silica reaction in calcium aluminate cement mortars subjected to the deicing salts attack

Abstract

Paper presents the results of research on the effect of the lithium nitrate and carbonate addition on the alkali – silica reaction in calcium aluminate cement mortars, subjected to the a deicing salts attack. Mortars with the addition of quartz glass as the reactive aggregate were immersed in 4.5 molar sodium acetate, chloride and hydroxide solutions according to the modified ASTM C1260 method. In all cases, the mortars exhibited expansion, the highest for samples immersed in the acetate solution, and the lowest in the hydroxide solution. The addition of 1% of lithium carbonate in respect to the cement mass slightly reduces the expansion of mortars immersed in sodium acetate and hydroxide solutions. The addition of 1.86% and 3.73% of lithium nitrate increases the expansion of mortars immersed in both solutions. The addition of 1.86% lithium nitrate reduces the expansion of the mortar stored in sodium hydroxide solution, while 3.73% of this addition increases the expansion of this mortar. Changes in the microstructure were also presented.