Use of different barium salts to inhibit the thaumasite form of sulfate attack in cement-based materials

We investigated the effects of different barium compounds on the thaumasite form of sulphate attack (TSA) resistance of cement-based materials when they were used as admixtures in mortars. Moreover, we analyzed the inhibition mechanisms within different types of barium salts, namely BaCO₃ and Ba(OH)₂, on the thaumasite formation. The control cement mortar and mortars with barium salts to cement and limestone weight ratios of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% were immersed in 5% (by weight) MgSO₄ solution at 5 °C to mimic TSA. Appearance, mass, and compressive strength of the mortar samples were monitored and measured to assess the general degradation extent of these samples. The products of sulphate attack were further analyzed by XRD, FTIR, and SEM, respectively. Experimental results show that different degradation extent is evident in all mortars cured in MgSO₄ solution. However, barium salts can greatly inhibit such degradation. Barium in hydroxide form has better effectiveness in protection against TSA than carbonate form, which may be due to their solubility difference in alkaline cement pore solution, and the presence of these barium compounds can reduce the degree of TSA by comparison with the almost completely decomposed control samples.