Tolerance limit of chloride for steel in blended cement mortar using the cyclic polarisation technique

The tolerance limit for chloride in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and blended cements such as Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) and Portland slag cement (PSC) was assessed by cyclic polarisation. This study covers both cement extracts and mortar. The salient features of this investigation were: in extracts, the tolerance limit for chloride actually doubles for PSC when compared to PPC and OPC. The tolerance limit for chloride for various mortars follows the order: PSC > PPC > OPC. In OPC and PPC mortar, the repassivation potential (E _rep) shifted negatively with higher amounts of free chloride but in PSC mortar E _rep shifted positively (+590 mV) even in the presence of 5,000 ppm of free chloride. PSC takes longer time (50 days) to reach E _rep indicating perfect passivity maintained for the embedded steel.     

Blended cement using volcanic ash and pumice

This paper reports the results of investigation to assess the suitability of volcanic ash (VA) and pumice powder (VPP) for blended cement production. Tests were conducted on cement where Portland cement (PC) was replaced by VA and VPP within the range of 0 to 50%. The physical and chemical properties of VA and VPP were critically reviewed to evaluate the possible influences on cement properties. The investigation included testing on both fresh and hardened states of cement paste. The standard tests conducted on different PC-VA and -VPP mixtures provided encouraging results, comparable to those for fly ash (FA) cement, and showed good potential of manufacturing blended Portland volcanic ash cement (PVAC) and Portland volcanic pumice cement (PVPC) with higher setting time and low heat of hydration using up to 20% replacement.     

Performance of volcanic ash and pumice based blended cement concrete in mixed sulfate environment

The deterioration of concrete structures due to the presence of mixed sulfate in soils, groundwater and marine environments is a well-known phenomenon. The use of blended cements incorporating supplementary cementing materials and cements with low C₃A content is becoming common in such aggressive environments. This paper presents the results of an investigation on the performance of 12 volcanic ash (VA) and finely ground volcanic pumice (VP) based ASTM Type I and Type V (low C₃A) blended cement concrete mixtures with varying immersion period of up to 48 months in environments characterized by the presence of mixed magnesium-sodium sulfates. The concrete mixtures comprise a combination of two Portland cements (Type I and Type V) and four VA/VP based blended cements with two water-to-binder ratio of 0.35 and 0.45. Background experiments (in addition to strength and fresh properties) including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and rapid chloride permeability (RCP) were conducted on all concrete mixtures to determine phase composition, pozzolanic activity, porosity and chloride ion resistance. Deterioration of concrete due to mixed sulfate attack and corrosion of reinforcing steel were evaluated by assessing concrete weight loss and measuring corrosion potentials and polarization resistance at periodic intervals throughout the immersion period of 48 months. Plain (Type I/V) cement concretes, irrespective of their C₃A content performed better in terms of deterioration and corrosion resistance compared to Type I/V VA/VP based blended cement concrete mixtures in mixed sulfate environment.     

Alternative blended cement with ceramic residues: Corrosion resistance investigation on reinforced mortar

Blended cements are largely used for concrete: they are usually considered cements with a low environmental impact, as they require less clinker than ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Different constituents can be used as supplementary clinker component usually leading to cement with high resistance to outdoor environment. Polishing residue (PR), coming from porcelain stoneware tiles production, can be successfully used as new constituent for blended cement, however its action for enhancing the durability of cement matrix must be assessed. With this purpose, electrochemical tests (half cell potential, impressed voltage and linear polarization techniques) have been carried out on steel reinforced mortar samples, prepared using a 25% PR based cement and 100% OPC as binder and exposed to a 3.5% NaCl solution. The corrosion resistance results and microstructure analysis highlight better durability performances for PR based cement than those exhibited by OPC, mainly for curing time > 28 days.     

Influence of high-temperature and low-humidity curing on chloride penetration in blended cement concrete

The influence of high-temperature and low-humidity curing on chloride penetration in concrete containing cement replacement materials was investigated. Three different mixes were studied: a control mix in which no cement replacement materials were added and two mixes where cement was partially replaced by 20% fly ash and 9% silica fume (by weight), respectively, at a constant water-to-binder ratio of 0.45. High-temperature curing was employed to simulate concrete temperature in hot climate. The results show that at early periods of exposure, initial curing has a substantial influence on chloride penetration in concrete. The effect of initial curing is much reduced after a long period of exposure. The chloride penetration at early ages of exposure is directly related to the porosity of the binder phase and the absorption of concrete. Higher chloride penetration resistance was observed when cement is partially replaced with either fly ash or silica fume.     

分选与磨细粉煤灰对水泥胶砂性能的影响

研究了分选与磨细粉煤灰的颗粒分布与形貌的差异及对水泥胶砂性能的影响。研究结果表明:当勃氏比表面积相近,磨细粉煤灰的中位粒径大于分选细粉煤灰,其圆珠状颗粒较少,表面较为粗糙。在相同水胶比的条件下,掺分选粗粉煤灰的水泥胶砂流动度及强度均低;分选粗粉煤灰磨细后,不仅减少了颗粒的粘连,增加了比表面积,而且提高了粉煤灰的反应活性和水泥胶砂流动度及强度,虽其水泥胶砂流动度仍小于掺分选细粉煤灰的水泥,3d水泥胶砂强度也略低,但其28d水泥胶砂强度略高于掺分选细粉煤灰的水泥;在相同水泥胶砂流动度的条件下,掺磨细粉煤灰配制的水泥胶砂3d强度低于掺分选细粉煤灰的水泥,但随着水化龄期的增长,其差距逐步缩小,至60d时可超过后者。     

Properties of volcanic pumice based cement and lightweight concrete

The results of investigations on the suitability of using volcanic pumice (VP) as cement replacement material and as coarse aggregate in lightweight concrete production are reported. Tests were conducted on cement by replacing 0% to 25% of cement by weight and on concrete by replacing 0% to 100% of coarse aggregate by volume. The physical and chemical properties of VP are critically reviewed to evaluate the possible influence on both fresh and hardened state of cement and concrete. The standard tests on different Portland cement-volcanic pumice powder (VPP) mixes provided encouraging results and showed good potential of manufacturing Portland volcanic pumice cement (PVPC) with higher setting time using up to 15% of VPP. The properties of volcanic pumice concrete (VPC) using different percentages of volcanic pumice aggregate (VPA) were evaluated by conducting comprehensive series of tests on workability, strength, drying shrinkage, surface absorption and water permeability. It is concluded that the VPC has sufficient strength and adequate density to be accepted as structural lightweight concrete. However, compared to control concrete, the VPC has lower modulus of elasticity and has more permeability and initial surface absorption.     

Influence of fly ash fineness on strength, drying shrinkage and sulfate resistance of blended cement mortar

In this paper, the influence of fineness of fly ash on water demand and some of the properties of hardened mortar are examined. In addition to the original fly ash (OFA), five different fineness values of fly ash were obtained by sieving and by using an air separator. Two sieves, Nos. 200 and 325, were used to obtain two lots of graded fine fly ash. For the classification using air separator, the OFA was separated into fine, medium and coarse portions. The fly ash dosage of 40% by weight of binder was used throughout the experiment. From the tests, it was found that the compressive strength of mortar depended on the fineness of fly ash. The strength of mortar containing fine fly ash was better than that of OFA mortar at all ages with the very fine fly ash giving the highest strength. The use of all fly ashes resulted in significant improvement in drying shrinkage with the coarse fly ash showing the least improvement owing primarily to the high water to binder ratio (W/B) of the mix. Significant improvement of resistance to sulfate expansion was obtained for all fineness values except for the coarse fly ash where greater expansion was observed. The resistance to sulfuric acid attack was also improved with the incorporation of all fly ashes. In this case the coarse fly ash gave the best performance with the lowest rate of the weight loss owing probably to the better bonding of the coarse fly ash particles to the cement matrix and less hydration products. It is suggested that the fine fly ash is more reactive and its use resulted in a denser cement matrix and better mechanical properties of mortar.     

Effect of mixing proportions of concrete on its electrical conductivity and the rapid chloride permeability test (ASTM C1202 or ASSHTO T277) results

The rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT)—American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) test method C1202 or American Association of States Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) test method T277—is virtually a measurement of electrical conductivity of concrete, which depends on both the pore structure characteristics and pore solution chemistry of concrete. This paper discusses the effects of several factors, such as cement composition, replacement of cement with supplementary cementing materials and inclusion of aggregate, on the electrical conductivity or RCPT results of hardened cement mortars and concrete. Analyses based on published results have indicated that all the three factors may have significant effects on the chemistry and specific conductivity of concrete pore solution, which has little to do with the transport of ions in the solution. Thus, RCPT is not a valid test for evaluation of permeability of concretes made with different materials or different proportions.     

Development of water content sensor composed of small copper electrodes for use during fire resistance tests of concrete and cement mortar elements

The purpose of this study is to develop a sensor for measuring the water content in concrete and cement mortar elements usable in fire tests. Annealed copper wires were used as electrodes of the water content sensor. Each electrode is 20 mm in length and 0.8 mm in diameter. The separation distance between the electrodes is 2 mm. By measuring the electric resistance, water content can be monitored continuously. Mortar bar specimens were used to calibrate the sensor by measuring electric resistance as a function of water content at a constant temperature of 26°C. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance was approximated by a functional relationship developed by Ichinose for a similar type of sensor. As a result, a calibration formula was derived for electrical resistances in the range of 1.51 to 2330 kΩ, temperatures in the range of 10 to 175°C, and volumetric water content in the range of 0.084 to 0.201 m³/m³. To verify the applicability, the sensors were embedded in a wall specimen heated by ISO 834 fire for 30 minutes. As a result, it was possible to measure the water contents continuously.