Effect of Air Entrainment on the Resistance of Mortars to Physical Sulfate Salt Attack

Author(s): Semion Zhutovsky and R. Douglas Hooton
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceeding of the 71st RILEM Annual Week & ICACMS 2017
Editor(s): Manu Santhanam, Ravindra Gettu, Radhakrishna G. Pillai, Sunitha K. Nayar
ISBN:978-2-35158-195-7, 978-2-35158-190-2 (Set)
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-191-9
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2017
Pages: 409-416
Total Pages: 8
Language : English

Abstract:  Physical sulfate salt attack is one of the most aggressive deterioration mechanisms that can take place in concrete. The driving force of the physical salt attack is a crystallization of salts in the pores of the concrete. There is a similarity between the mechanism of physical salt attack and the mechanism of deterioration due to freezing and thawing in concrete. For this reason, it is suggested that the air entrainment – the approach that is used for prevention of freezing and thawing damage in concrete – can be used for increasing the resistance of concrete to physical sulfate salt attack. A novel alternative to air entrainment is by use of superabsorbent polymers. In this research, the effect of two levels of air entrainment and two types of superabsorbent polymers on the resistance of mortars to physical sulfate salt attack was examined using accelerated testing. The results demonstrated that entrainment of air improves the resistance, one type of superabsorbent polymer slightly improved the resistance and another type superabsorbent polymer physical reduced the resistance of mortars to physical sulfate salt attack. The reasons for these results are discussed.

Online publication :2017
Publication type :full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00