This study deals with the analysis of the detrimental effects of a "sulfate attack" on cement mortar for different dry-wet cycles. The mass loss, tensile strength, and gas permeability coefficient were determined and analyzed under different exposure conditions. At the same time, nitrogen adsorption (NAD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to analyze the corresponding variations in the microstructure and the corrosion products. The results show that certain properties of the cement mortar evolve differently according to the durations of the dry-wet cycles and that some damage is caused to the mortars in aqueous solution. The pores fill with corrosion products, increasing the mortar specimen mass and tensile strength while reducing the permeability coefficient and pore size distribution. As corrosion proceeds, the crystallization pressure of the corrosion products increases, resulting in a 16% reduction in tensile strength from the initial value and a 2.6-factor increase in the permeability coefficient, indicating sensitivity to sulfate attack damage. Furthermore, the main corrosion products generated in the experiment are gypsum and ettringite. Application of osmotic pressure and extension of the immersion time can accelerate the erosion process.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.