• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.569-572
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• 2006

TSA(thaumasite sulfate attack) is one of the important and prevailing phenomena to damage concrete structures by sulfate attack. In the present study, the thaumasite ($CaSiO_3{\cdot}CaSO_3{\cdot}CaSO_4{\cdot}15H_2O$) has been observed by the authors and other researchers in concrete samples in laboratory or field. Microstructural and mechanical observations clearly confirm that the thaumasite formation is greatly associated with sulfate attack indicating mass loss, expansion and spalling in the sample. This study summarizes the results of observation carried out by the authors and researchers on TSA which thaumasite formation has been identified.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 2003

Ettringite and thaumasite were observed in some concrete. The morphology and occurrence of these minerals were closely examined by performing SEM/EDAX analyses. We also experimentally induced the concrete deterioration using $Na_2SO_4$ solution with application of various environmental conditions. The stability of these minerals and deterioration characteristics under applied experimental conditions were determined. Abundant ettringite formed by“through solution reaction”occurred in many open spaces, and some microscopic ettringite formed by "tophochemical replacement" of calcium aluminate also occurred in cement paste. Severe cracking of cement paste causing premature deterioration was often associated with ettringite location. Under specific condition, ettringite was transformed to thaumasite, tricthloroaluminate, or decomposed. Thaumasite occurred with association of ettrinsite in concrete containing carbonate aggregate being subject to dedolomitization or in some concrete being subject to carbonation. Thaumasite appears to be formed under the similar condition to the general ettringite forming condition, but it formed solid solution with ettringite by substituting pre-existing ettringite. Ettringite can also be transformed to trichloroaluminate in the presence of abundant chlorides, but trichloroaluminate changed back to ettringite in late sulfate attack. It is considered that the substitution reaction direction solely depend on the concentration of chloride and sulfate ion.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.465-470
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• 2007

This paper presents an experimental study of the sulfate resistance of mortars and pastes exposed to sodium sulfate solutions up to one year. In order to check deterioration modes due to sulfate attack, the sodium sulfate solution was varied at three concentration steps (3,380, 10,140 and 33,800 ppm of $SO_4^{2-}$ ions), and maintained at ambient temperature. The tests include a visual examination, expansion and compressive strength loss measurements as well as x-ray diffraction tests. The experimental data indicated that the use of cement with a low $C_3A$ content and low silicate ratio has a beneficial effect on the sulfate attack of mortars. In contrast, the mortars with a high $C_3A$ content and high silicate ratio became severely degraded due to the formation of ettringite, gypsum and/or thaumasite in the cement matrix.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2009

In this study, experimental findings on the resistance to magnesium sulfate attack of portland cement mortar and paste specimens incorporating metakaolin (MK) are presented. Specimens with four replacement levels of metakaolin (0, 5, 10 and 15% of cement by mass) were exposed to solutions with concentrations of 0.424% and 4.24% as $MgSO_4$ at ambient temperature. The resistance of mortar specimens was evaluated through visual examination and linear expansion measurements. Additionally, in order to identify the products formed by magnesium sulfate attack, microstructural analyses such as XRD, DSC and SEM/EDS were also performed on the paste samples incorporating metakaolin. Results confirmed that mortar specimens with a high replacement level of metakaolin exhibited lower resistance to a higher concentration of magnesium sulfate solution. It was found that the negative effect of metakaolin on the magnesium sulfate attack is partially attributed to the formation of gypsum and thaumasite. Conclusively, it is necessary to pay a special attention when using metakaolin in concrete structures, particularly under highly concentrated magnesium sulfate environment.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.4 s.82
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• pp.557-564
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• 2004

This paper introduces a study carried out to investigate sodium sulfate attack caused by various reactive products. Experiments were performed on mortar and paste specimens made with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) conforming to KS L 5201 Type I. The water-cement ratios were varied from 0.35 to 0.55. It was found from the laboratory study that the water-cement ratio may be a key to control the deterioration of OPC matrix during sodium sulfate attack. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that ettringite, gypsum and thaumasite were the main products formed by sodium sulfate attack. These findings were well supported by thermal analysis through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and confirmed the long-term understanding that deterioration mechanism by sodium sulfate attack is a complicated process. Most importantly, deterioration due to sodium sulfate attack is characterized as the drastic reduction in compressive strength as well as the expansion (especially in cement matrix with a higher water-cement ratio).

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.19-22
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• 2011

For underground structures that are exposed to environmental conditions, the declination of the durability of concrete occurs easily because of leakages from high hydraulic pressure and the frequent contact of water due to environmental factors. Therefore this study is to confirm that the leakage reduction of natural inorgnic powder compound applying subsurface structural weak part and make the performance improvement of concrete as an objective. The test was done by making the rebar, flat tie, nail and film infiltration and each of its water tank and cylindrical test body then after pouring water to each of the test body, the test observe the change of the water tank surface absorbed condition and leakage of each specimen with respect to time. As a conclusion, the test was observed that this water proofing admixture has better watertightness from the beginning of the setting time(when it hardens), the ettringite and the thaumasite generates a large quantity of hydration products that controls the formation in a large opening and the CSH produced by pozzolan reaction makes a dent at this opening.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.441-447
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• 2009

This paper presents a detailed experimental study on the sulfate resistance of specimens made with portland cement exposed to sulfate attack. The mortar specimens were immersed in a 5% sodium sulfate solution for 360 days and regularly monitored for visual damage, compressive strength loss and expansion. In addition, at the end of 360 days, the products of sulfate attack and the mechanism of attack were investigated through X-ray diffraction, TG&DSC and scanning electron microscopy. The test results indicated that the sulfate deterioration data was ordinary portland cement > sulfate resistance portland cement > low heat portland cement. The microstructural studies indicated that the main reaction product of deterioration of the mortar specimens was the formation of ettringite, gypsum and thaumasite due to sulfate attack. For portland cement matrices, a low heat cement matrix containing the lowest C3A and silicate ratio (C/S) was beneficient against the sulfate attack.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.611-617
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• 2009

This paper reports an experimental study on the damage mechanism and resistance of Type I portland cement mortar and paste samples exposed to 5% sodium sulfate solution with different solution temperatures; namely, $4^{\circ}C$, $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$. The resistance of mortar samples was evaluated using expansion, compressive strength and flexural strength measurements. Some microstructural observations such as x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy were also introduced to elucidate reactants formed by sulfate attack, especially in a low temperature condition. From the results, it was found that the degree of damage in the mortar samples was significantly associated with the temperature of sulfate solution. Low temperature of the sulfate solution led to the formation of thaumasite in mortar and paste samples, and subsequently a poor resistance to sulfate attack. Thus, it is noted that when concrete structures are exposed to sulfate media in the condition of a cold region or whether, special care should be taken.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.55-62
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• 2008

This paper reports the effect of replacement levels of silica fume on the resistance to magnesium sulfate attack. Mortar specimens incorporating silica fume were exposed to 5% magnesium sulfate solution for 360 days at ambient temperature. The main variable was the replacement levels of silica fume(0, 5, 10 and 15% of cement by mass). The resistance of mortar specimens incorporating silica fume against magnesium sulfate attack was regularly monitored by measuring compressive strength and expansion. In addition, in order to investigate the reactants formed by magnesium sulfate attack, various instrumental analyses such as XRD, SEM and DSC were used. Results demonstrated that the formation of gypsum, thaumasite and brucite led to a significant deterioration due to magnesium sulfate attack in cement matrix incorporating silica fume.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.16 no.2 s.76
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• pp.17-22
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• 2007

The report of an investigation into the performance of mortar specimens made with recycled fine aggregate (RA) exposed to sodium sulfate solution for 360 days is presented in this paper. Mechanical properties of mortar specimens such as visual examination, compressive strength, expansion and mass loss were periodically monitored. From the test results, it was found that mortar specimens with higher replacement levels of Rh exhibited poor performance in sodium sulfate solution. However, compared to mortar specimens without RA, those with lower replacement levels of RA (up to 50% by mass) was more resistant to sulfate attack. Through the x-ray diffraction analysis, it was confirmed that the main products causing sulfate deterioration in RA mortar specimens were the formation of gypsum and thaumasite.