CHEMICAL DETERIORATION OF

CONCRETE
G.V Prasad
I M.Tech(Structural Engineering)
NITK, Surathkal.

INTRODUCTION
RCC - Large variety of structures
Potential threat
Concrete, heterogeneous material environmental
dependence
Durable concrete, need of the day
Chemical attack

Major Phenomena
Sulphate Attack
Alkali Silica Reaction
Corrosion of Reinforcing Steel

Sulphate attack by aqueous solutions

Rate and degree of attack available sulphate
presence of water
composition of the cement
characteristics of concrete
Gradual loss of strength
The severest attack occurs where one side is exposed
to sulphate solutions and evaporation can take place on
the other, e.g..Retaining walls

Occurrence of available salts

Frequently in soils and ground waters
Surface deposits sodium sulphates ,magnesium sulphates
and calcium sulphates
Marshy grounds ,sewage
Sea water attack
Very high concentration
Much concrete in sea water is partly immersed
Problem gets complicated frost action, erosion, abrasion
Corrosion

Mechanism of the reaction

Chemical reaction - sulphate ion and hydrated calcium
aluminates and /or the calcium hydroxide components
Products ettringite and gypsum
Development of stresses
Magnesium sulphate is more aggressive than sodium sulphate
and it operates in separate reaction that can be destructive
This possible second reaction may account for cases of
deterioration

Significance of sulphate concentrations

1. Negligible attack upto 150mm sulphate in groundwaters
or up to 0.1percent sulphate in soil
2. Mild but positive where the corresponding values are 150
to 1000 ppm and 0.1 to 0.2 percent
3.Considerable attack at 1000 2000ppm and 0.2 to 0.5
percent
4.severe over 2000 ppm and over 0.50 percent

 Salt concentrations may vary seasonally with amount of

rainfall and fluctuations in water table
Concrete elements partly immersed severe attack ,even
when sulphate contents of test samples are relatively low
Concrete elements completely immersed the degree of
severity may be somewhat less than that predicted by
concentration criteria
Exposed surface relatively low drying environment , attack
may be slower than that would be predicted by concentration

ALKALI AGGREGATE REACTION

-During this process, expansive componds form over
long periods of time
-Expansion fissures,intensify the action by weathering
and freeze thaw cycles
ASR development
-aggregate and cement type
-Water cement ratio
-moisture condition of the concrete while in
service

Reaction siliceous minerals in aggregates and OH- ions in

the Cement paste
Alkalies ( from cement , mixing water ,environment)
increase OH- ion concentration in the concrete
Gel expands ,generating pressures cracking
Damage invisible to the naked eye for years

Identification

Minimization of the Effects of ASR

Use of low alkali cements
Use of supplementary siliceous materials
- Blended cements fly ash,natural pozzolans,calcined
clay , silica fume ,slag
- lithium admixtures

CORROSION OF STEEL IN CONCRETE

Ca(OH)2 pH 13 ,prevents the corrosion forms
a thin protective film of iron oxide
Passive iron oxide layer destroyed - ph 11
and carbonation lowers pH about 9
Corrosion expansion, cracking and eventually
Spalling of the cover

Mechanism involved in Concrete deterioration by Corrosion

of Embedded Steel
- Electro-chemical action ,when two dissimilar metals
are in electrical contact in the presence of moisture
and oxygen
- The process takes place in steel alone, because of
differences in electro chemical potential on the
surface

Control of Corrosion
-permeability of concrete
-low water cement ratio
-adequate cement
-aggregate size and grading
-use of admixtures
-reinforcing bar coatings and cathodic protection

CONCLUSIONS
It is important for the assessment of any cause of
concrete deterioration to be dependable.
It should not be based on assumptions drawn from
inconclusive evidence, as the performance of
materials in new construction, the reliability of tests
and the approach to the mitigation of the effects on
structures will all be based upon the diagnosis
reached.
Controlling the risk of concrete deterioration by
chemical attack may be achieved in number of
ways i.e. by limiting the content of reactive alkalies,
reduce water cement ratio and permeability,use of
admixtures, reducing chloride content.

REFERENCES
Dayaratnam, P., and Ramana Rao, N.V., (1997), International Conference
on Maintenance of Concrete Structures, JNTU, Hyderabad.
Mehta, P.K., and Paulo Monteiro, J.M., (1997), Concrete Micro Structure
Properties and Materials, Indian Edition, Indian Concrete Institute,
Chennai, pp.165-167.
Neville, A.M., and Brooks, J.J., (1999), Concrete Technology,
International Student Edition, Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., Harlow,
U.K., pp. 275-276.
Rachel Detwiler, Guest Lecture on Alkali Silica Reaction at LMCC,
2003
Swenson, E.G., (1971), an Article on Concrete
Environments, CBD-136,

in Sulphate

Thank U