Chloride ingress and strength loss in concrete with different PC-PFA-MK binder compositions exposed to synthetic seawater

The paper reports the influence of the composition of Portland cement (PC)-pulverised fuel ash (PFA)-metakaolin (MK) binders on chloride ingress and strength retardation of PC-PFA-MK concrete exposed to synthetic seawater. PC-PFA-MK concrete covering four different total cement replacement levels (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) and with various MK:PFA proportions was exposed to synthetic seawater for up to 1.5 years. The chloride concentration-penetration depth profiles and change in compressive strength of the concrete for a range of binder compositions and at various exposure times are compared with those of the control PC concrete. It is established that blending the binders in PC concrete and PC-PFA concrete with MK produces concrete with a reduced strength deterioration factor (SDF) and good resistance to chloride penetration when exposed to seawater. The results presented in this paper form part of an investigation into the performance of concrete incorporating both PFA and MK in the binder to produce high performance concrete.