Long-Term Effects of External Sulfate Attack on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials at Early Age
Placed in a sulfate-rich environment, concrete reacts with sulfate ions, influencing the long-term durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This external sulfate attack (ESA) degrades the cement paste through complex and coupled physicochemical mechanisms that can lead to severe mechanical...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/7/2831 |
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| author | François El Inaty Bugra Aydin Maryam Houhou Mario Marchetti Marc Quiertant Othman Omikrine Metalssi |
| author_facet | François El Inaty Bugra Aydin Maryam Houhou Mario Marchetti Marc Quiertant Othman Omikrine Metalssi |
| author_sort | François El Inaty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Placed in a sulfate-rich environment, concrete reacts with sulfate ions, influencing the long-term durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This external sulfate attack (ESA) degrades the cement paste through complex and coupled physicochemical mechanisms that can lead to severe mechanical damage. In common practice, RC structures are generally exposed to sulfate at an early age. This early exposition can affect ESA mechanisms that are generally studied on pre-cured specimens. Moreover, current efforts for sustainable concrete construction focus on replacing clinker with supplementary cementitious materials, requiring a 90-day curing period, which contradicts real-life scenarios. Considering all these factors, the objective of this study is to explore ESA effects at an early age on cement-blended paste samples using various low-carbon formulations. The characterization techniques used demonstrated that the reference mix (100% CEM I) exhibits the weakest resistance to sulfate, leading to complete deterioration after 90 weeks of exposure. This is evident through the highest mass gain, expansion, cracking, formation of ettringite and gypsum, and sulfate consumption from the attacking solution. Conversely, the ternary mix, consisting of CEM I, slag, and metakaolin, demonstrates the highest resistance throughout the entire 120 weeks of exposure. All the blended pastes performed well in the sulfate environment despite being exposed at an early age. It can be recommended to substitute clinker with a limited quantity of metakaolin, along with blast furnace slag, as it is the most effective substitute for clinker, outperforming other combinations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:50:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c93465f5be2b44aeb4517dc55f38aa67 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:50:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c93465f5be2b44aeb4517dc55f38aa672024-04-12T13:14:56ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-03-01147283110.3390/app14072831Long-Term Effects of External Sulfate Attack on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials at Early AgeFrançois El Inaty0Bugra Aydin1Maryam Houhou2Mario Marchetti3Marc Quiertant4Othman Omikrine Metalssi5Unité Mixte de Recherche-Matériaux pour une Construction Durable (UMR MCD), Université Gustave Eiffel, Cerema, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, FranceUnité Mixte de Recherche-Matériaux pour une Construction Durable (UMR MCD), Université Gustave Eiffel, Cerema, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, FranceUnité Mixte de Recherche-Matériaux pour une Construction Durable (UMR MCD), Université Gustave Eiffel, Cerema, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, FranceUnité Mixte de Recherche-Matériaux pour une Construction Durable (UMR MCD), Université Gustave Eiffel, Cerema, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, FranceInstitut de Recherche de l’ESTP, F-94230 Cachan, FranceUnité Mixte de Recherche-Matériaux pour une Construction Durable (UMR MCD), Université Gustave Eiffel, Cerema, F-77454 Marne-la-Vallée, FrancePlaced in a sulfate-rich environment, concrete reacts with sulfate ions, influencing the long-term durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This external sulfate attack (ESA) degrades the cement paste through complex and coupled physicochemical mechanisms that can lead to severe mechanical damage. In common practice, RC structures are generally exposed to sulfate at an early age. This early exposition can affect ESA mechanisms that are generally studied on pre-cured specimens. Moreover, current efforts for sustainable concrete construction focus on replacing clinker with supplementary cementitious materials, requiring a 90-day curing period, which contradicts real-life scenarios. Considering all these factors, the objective of this study is to explore ESA effects at an early age on cement-blended paste samples using various low-carbon formulations. The characterization techniques used demonstrated that the reference mix (100% CEM I) exhibits the weakest resistance to sulfate, leading to complete deterioration after 90 weeks of exposure. This is evident through the highest mass gain, expansion, cracking, formation of ettringite and gypsum, and sulfate consumption from the attacking solution. Conversely, the ternary mix, consisting of CEM I, slag, and metakaolin, demonstrates the highest resistance throughout the entire 120 weeks of exposure. All the blended pastes performed well in the sulfate environment despite being exposed at an early age. It can be recommended to substitute clinker with a limited quantity of metakaolin, along with blast furnace slag, as it is the most effective substitute for clinker, outperforming other combinations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/7/2831external sulfate attackearly agesupplementary cementitious materialsphysicochemical behaviorlong term durabilitylow carbon cement |
| spellingShingle | François El Inaty Bugra Aydin Maryam Houhou Mario Marchetti Marc Quiertant Othman Omikrine Metalssi Long-Term Effects of External Sulfate Attack on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials at Early Age Applied Sciences external sulfate attack early age supplementary cementitious materials physicochemical behavior long term durability low carbon cement |
| title | Long-Term Effects of External Sulfate Attack on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials at Early Age |
| title_full | Long-Term Effects of External Sulfate Attack on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials at Early Age |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Effects of External Sulfate Attack on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials at Early Age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Effects of External Sulfate Attack on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials at Early Age |
| title_short | Long-Term Effects of External Sulfate Attack on Low-Carbon Cementitious Materials at Early Age |
| title_sort | long term effects of external sulfate attack on low carbon cementitious materials at early age |
| topic | external sulfate attack early age supplementary cementitious materials physicochemical behavior long term durability low carbon cement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/7/2831 |
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