SULFATE RESISTANT CONCRETE

MECHANISMS OF SULFATE ATTACK

Ettringite Formation
Reaction of Sodium sulfate with calcium aluminate hydrate Reaction of Magnesium sulfate with calcium aluminate hydrate

 Gypsum Formation
Reaction of sodium sulfate with calcium hydroxide In aqueous conditions: Reactions of calcium sulfate with calcium aluminate hydrate Magnesium sulfate attacks calcium silicate hydrate

MANIFESTATION OF SULFATE ATTACK

Loss in strength Expansion Surface spalling Mass loss Disintegration

AFFECTED AREAS
Structures in marine environment Areas where soil and ground water have high sulfate contents Chemical and Mining Industries

MAJOR PARAMETERS
1. 2. 3. 4. Use of Type II or V cement. Reduce water/cement ratio. Minimize binder content. Replace cement with supplementary cementitious material. 5. Provide air entrainment. 6. Adequate compaction and curing.

SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL

Fly ash Silica Fumes Blast furnace slag

Fly Ash
Chemically binds free lime in cementitious compounds Reduces concrete permeability Reduces the amount of reactive aluminates (tricalcium aluminate) ACI 232.2R-96 (Use of Fly Ash in Concrete) reports that fly ash with CaO content less than 15% will generally improve sulfate resistance.

DEGREE OF RESISTANCE
Type V Cement + Fly Ash Type II Cement + Fly Ash Type V Cement Type II Cement Type I Cement + Fly Ash Type I Cement

SILICA FUMES
Decreases concrete permeability Silica fume chemically binds some of the free calcium hydroxide in the paste preventing future reaction with sulfates. ACI 234 states that silica fume concrete has good resistance to sodium sulfate attack but does not work as well against magnesium sulfate.

SRC vs TRADITIONAL CONCRETE

AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS
AS 3735 Supplement
sulfate levels exceed 2000 ppm in groundwater :
min. cement content: 320 kg/m3 max. watercement ratio: 0.5

AS 3972
FULLY BURIED cement content: 335 kg/m3 watercement ratio: 0.5 PARTIALLY BURIED cement content: 415 kg/m3 watercement ratio: 0.4

Australian Standard 3972

BENEFITS:
Minimize the corrosion of reinforced steel Provides high level of concrete performance Increased workability and pumpability Improved later-age concrete strength