Approximate migration coefficient of interfacial transition zone and the effect of aggregate content on the migration coefficient of mortar

In this study, the electrochemical technique is applied to accelerate chloride ion migration in mortar to estimate its transport properties. In order to investigate the effect of aggregate content on the chloride migration coefficient of mortar, specimens with different fine aggregate volume fractions were cast and tested. The chloride migration coefficient of mortar was determined experimentally as a function of the volume fraction of aggregate. The chloride migration coefficient of mortar is used to assess the dilution, tortuosity and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) effects of aggregate in the cement-based composites. A model modified from the Bruggeman theory for the migration coefficient of mortar is used, and the regression analysis is used to determine the approximate chloride migration coefficient of ITZ. Based on the experimental and regression analytical results, the approximate ITZ migration coefficient is 2.83, 1.76 and 1.55 times of the matrix migration coefficient for the ITZ with the thickness of 20, 40 and 50 μm, respectively.