• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.507-515
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• 2021

To evaluate the influence of slag on the alkalinity of pore solution and microstructure of concrete, this paper performs a leaching experiment on hardened cement-slag pastes (HCSP) slice specimens with different slag content in purified water. The pH value of pore solution, average porosity, morphology, phase composition and Ca/Si of HCSP specimens in the leaching process are measured by solid-liquid extraction, saturated-dried weighing, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results shows that the addition of slag can mitigate an increase in porosity and a decrease in Ca/Si of HCSP in the leaching process. Besides, an appropriate slag content can improve the microstructure so as to obtain the optimum leaching resistance of HCSP, which can guarantee the suitable alkalinity of pore solution to prevent a premature corrosion of reinforced bar. The optimum slag content is 40% in HCSP with a water-binder ratio of 0.45, and an excessive slag causes a significant decrease in the alkalinity of pore solution, resulting in a loss of protection on reinforced bar in HCSP.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.4 s.82
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• pp.549-555
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• 2004

Cement of three alkalinities (equivalent alkalinities of 0.36,0.52 and 0.97) was employed in fabricating a set of classical G109 type specimens. To-date, these have been subjected to a one week wet-one week dry cyclic pending using 15 w/o NaCl solution. At the end of the dry period, potential and macro-cell current were measured to indicate whether the top reinforcing steel was in the passive or active state. Once this bar became active, the specimen was autopsied and the extent of corrosion was documented. Subsequent to visual inspection, concrete powder samples were collected from the upper region of the top rebar trace; and at a certain times concrete cores were taken from non-reinforced specimens. Using these, determinations were made of (1) critical chloride concentration for corrosion initiation ($Cl_{th}^-$), (2) effective chloride diffusion coefficient ($D_e$), and (3) pore water alkalinity ($[OH^-]$). The pore water alkalinity was strongly related to the alkali content of cement that was used in the mix. The chloride concentration, ($Cl^-$), was greater at active than at passive sites, presumably as a consequence of electro migration and accumulation of these species at active site subsequent to corrosion initiation. Accordingly, ($Cl^-$) at passive sites was considered indicative of the threshold concentration fur corrosion initiation. The $Cl_{th}^-$ was increased with increasing Time-to-corrosion ($T_i$). Consequently, the HA(High Alkalinity) specimens exhibited the highest $Cl_{th}^-$ and the NA(Normal Alkalinity) was the least. This range exceeds what has previously been reported in North America. In addition, the effective diffusion coefficient, $D_e$, was about 40 percent lower for concrete prepared with the HA cement compared to the NA and LA(Low Alkalinity) ones.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.245-250
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• 2004

A series of classical G109 type concrete specimens was exposed to cyclic wet and dry ponding with 15 w/o NaCl solution for approximately five years. Mix design variables included 1) three cement alkalinities (EqA of 0.97, 0.52, and 0.36) and 2) three water-cement ratios (0.50, 0.41, and 0.37). To determine the corrosion initiation time, corrosion potential and macro-cell current between top and bottom bars were monitored. Subsequent to corrosion initiation, specimens were autopsied and visually inspected. Concrete powder samples were collected from top rebar trace and chloride concentration was measured. Also, time-to-corrosion, $T_i$, for specimens of the individual mix designs was represented using Weibull analysis. Time-to-corrosion was a distributed parameter; and because of this, corrosion initiation of four identical specimens for each mix varied, often over a relatively wide range. Specimens fabricated using the lowest water cement ratio and the highest alkalinity cement exhibited the longest time-to-corrosion initiation and the highest chloride threshold levels. Time-to-corrosion did not increase monotonically with cement alkalinity, however, presumably as a consequence of relatively high $Cl^-$ binding in the lower pore water pH range. The chloride threshold level, $Cl_{th}$, increased with increasing $T_i$ and, consequently, was greatest for the highest cement alkalinity specimens.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2014

Alkali-activated slag concretes are being extensively researched because of its potential sustainability-related benefits. For such concretes to be implemented in large scale concrete applications such as infrastructural and building elements, it is essential to understand its early and long-term performance characteristics vis-a'-vis conventional ordinary portland cement (OPC) based concretes. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the property and performance features including early-age isothermal calorimetric response, compressive strength development with time, microstructural features such as the pore volume and representative pore size, and accelerated chloride transport resistance of OPC and alkali-activated binder systems. Slag mixtures activated using sodium silicate solution ($SiO_2$-to-$Na_2O$ ratio or $M_s$ of 1-2) to provide a total alkalinity of 0.05 ($Na_2O$-to-binder ratio) are compared with OPC mixtures with and without partial cement replacement with Class F fly ash (20 % by mass) or silica fume (6 % by mass). Major similarities are noted between these binder systems for: (1) calorimetric response with respect to the presence of features even though the locations and peaks vary based on $M_s$, (2) compressive strength and its development, (3) total porosity and pore size, and (4) rapid chloride permeability and non-steady state migration coefficients. Moreover, electrical impedance based circuit models are used to bring out the microstructural features (resistance of the connected pores, and capacitances of the solid phase and pore-solid interface) that are similar in conventional OPC and alkali-activated slag concretes. This study thus demonstrates that performance-equivalent alkali-activated slag systems that are more sustainable from energy and environmental standpoints can be proportioned.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.517-525
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• 2021

More underground structures are increasingly being constructed such as box culverts for electric power transmission, and the life extension of these structures is very important. It is well known that the steel embedded in concrete is usually invulnerable to corrosion because the high alkalinity of the pore solution in concrete generates a thin protective oxide layer on the surface of the steel. Recent observations in the field and experimental evidence have shown that even steel in concrete can be corroded through the carbonation reaction of cover concrete. Carbonation-induced corrosion in concrete may often occur in a high carbon dioxide environment. In this study, the risk of carbonation of underground box culverts in Korea was evaluated by measuring the car¬bonation rate and concrete cover depth in the field. Then, the carbonation-free service life for the cover depth of the steel was calcu¬lated with in situ information and Monte Carlo simulation. Additionally, an accelerated carbonation test for a cracked beam specimen was performed, and the effect of a crack on the service life of a box culvert was numerically investigated with Monte Carlo simulation based on experimental results.