The role of temperature in the thaumasite formation under the immersion of magnesium sulfate solution

To clarify the role of temperature in the thaumasite formation of cement mortar under magnesium sulfate solution at two different temperature, the corrosion products and microstructure of cement-based materials with different amounts and particle sizes of limestone powder (LP) were quantitatively analyzed by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). At 5oC, the main corrosion product of cement mortar was gypsum and thaumasite. At 20°C, the main corrosion products of cement mortar were gypsum and ettringite. When the temperature increased from 5°C to 20°C, the contents of ettringite, thaumasite and gypsum changed from 0.3%, 12.3% and 64.6% to 4.6%, 0% and 57.0%, respectively. The formation of thaumasite was the combination of direct reaction with ettringite transformation. The incorporation of LP accelerated the corrosion of mortars, and the change coefficient of compressive strength of mortars decreased from 100% to 47.3% when its content increased from 0% to 30%. Low temperature and incorporation of finer limestone powder enhanced the corrosion of magnesium sulfate solution.

Importance of Cation Species during Sulfate Resistance Tests for Alkali-Activated FA/GGBFS Blended Mortars

In this study, the changes in mass, compressive strength, and length of blended mortars were analyzed to investigate their sulfate resistance according to the ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) blending ratio and type of sulfate solution applied. All alkali-activated mortars showed an excellent sulfate resistance when immersed in a sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) solution. However, when immersed in a magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) solution, different sulfate resistance results were obtained depending on the presence of GGBFS. The alkali-activated GGBFS blended mortars showed a tendency to increase in mass and length and decrease in compressive strength when immersed in a magnesium sulfate solution, whereas the alkali-activated FA mortars did not show any significant difference depending on the types of sulfate solution applied. The deterioration of alkali-activated GGBFS blended mortars in the immersion of a magnesium sulfate solution was confirmed through the decomposition of C–S–H, which is the reaction product from magnesium ions, and the formation of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and brucite (Mg(OH)2).

A Study on the Sulfate Resistance of Alkali Activated FA Based Geopolymer and GGBFS Blended Mortar with Various Sulfate Types

In this study, the changes in mass, compressive strength and length were analyzed to investigate sulfate resistance according to ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) blending ratio and type of sulfate solution. All alkali activated mortars showed excellent sulfate resistance when immersed in sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) solution. However, when immersed in magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) solution, different sulfate resistance results were obtained depending on the presence of GGBFS. Alkali activated GGBFS blended mortars showed a tendency to increase mass, increase length and decrease compressive strength when immersed in magnesium sulfate solution, but the alkali activated FA mortars did not show any significant difference depending on the types of sulfate solution. The deterioration of alkali activated GGBFS blended mortars in the immersion of magnesium sulfate solution was confirmed by the decomposition of C-S-H which is the reaction product by magnesium ion and the formation of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and brucite (Mg(OH)2).

Comparative Study on the Performance of Blended and Nonblended Fly Ash Geopolymer Composites as Durable Construction Materials

This article represents that the mechanical and microstructural properties and durability of fly ash-based geopolymers blended with silica fume and borax are better than those of conventional fly ash-based geopolymers. Fly ash itself contains the sources of silica and alumina which are required for geopolymerisation. But a sufficient amount of high-reactive silica is able to rapidly initiate geopolymerisation with activation. Pure potassium hydroxide pellets and sodium silicate solution were used for preparation of alkaline activator solution. Fly ash geopolymer paste exhibited better mechanical properties in the presence of silica fume with slight portion of borax. The effect of silica fume-blended geopolymer paste on temperature fluctuation (heating and cooling cycle at certain temperatures) showed better performance than nonblended fly ash-based specimens. Durability property was evaluated by immersion of geopolymer specimens in 10% magnesium sulfate solution for a period of one year. The change in weight, strength, and microstructure was studied and compared. In the magnesium sulfate solution, a significant drop of strength to around 37.26% occurred after one year for nonblended fly ash-based specimens. It is evident that specimens prepared incorporating silica fume had the best performance in terms of their properties.