Title:
Influence of Chloride Corrosion on the Durability of Reinforcement
Author(s):
J. Deja, J. Malolepszy and G. Jaskiewicz G. Jaskiewicz
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
126
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
511-526
Keywords:
alkali-aggregate reactions; blast furnace slag; chlorides; corrosion; durability; limestone; mortars; silica fume; slag mortar; Materials Research
DOI:
10.14359/2298
Date:
8/1/1991
Abstract:
Studies of slag activation by alkalies have been carried out since 1973 at the Institute of Building and Refractory Materials, Academy of Mining and Metallurgy, in Cracow, Poland. Laboratory tests were followed by production of the activated slag on a large scale. It appeared that the new cementing material composed of the granulated blast furnace slag mixed with an alkaline activator showed high strength and corrosion resistance. The present work deals with the problem of reinforcing steel corrosion in the alkali-activated slag mortar exposed to the attack of concentrated chloride solution. The observations of reinforcement in ordinary portland cement (OPC) mortars, OPC plus silica fume (SF) mortar, or OPC plus limestone flour mortar were carried out simultaneously. The resistance of alkali-activated slag mortar to the attack of a solution of high Cl- concentration was proved previously. The effective, protective action of the alkali-activated slag mortar was confirmed by electrochemical measurements and weight loss determination after 365 days' exposure to a chloride solution. A similar effect was found in the case of silica fume or limestone flour addition to the OPC mortar, but the corrosion of the reinforcement was clearly visible, as shown by corrosion pits in the reference standard OPC mortar samples.