• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.219-228
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• 2010

It has been well known that concrete structures exposed to acid and sulfate environments such as sewer, sewage and wastewater, soil, groundwater, and seawater etc. show significant decrease in their durability due to chemical attack. Such deleterious acid and sulfate attacks lead to expansion and cracking in concrete, and thus, eventually result in damage to concrete matrix by forming expansive hydration products due to the reaction between portland cement hydration products and acid and sulfate ions. Objectives of this experimental research are to investigate the effect of mineral admixtures on the resistance to acid and sulfate attack in concrete and to suggest high-resistance concrete mix against acid and sulfate attack. For this purpose, concretes specimens with three types of cement (ordinary portland cement (OPC), binary blended cement (BBC), and ternary blended cement (TBC) composed of different types and proportions of admixtures) were prepared at water-biner ratios of 32% and 43%. The concrete specimens were immersed in fresh water, 5% sulfuric acid, 10% sodium sulfate, and 10% magnesium sulfate solutions for 28, 56, 91, 182, and 365 days, respectively. To evaluate the resistance to acid and sulfate for concrete specimens, visual appearance changes were observed and compressive strength ratios and mass change ratios were measured. It was observed from the test results that the resistance against sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate solutions of the concretes containing mineral admixtures were much better than that of OPC concrete, but in the case of magnesium sulfate solution the concretes containing mineral admixtures was less resistant than OPC concrete due to formation of magnesium silicate hydrate (M-S-H) which is non-cementitious.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.3 s.81
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• pp.303-310
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using method and replacement ratio of limestone powder and water-cement ratio on the compressive strength and the resistance to sulfate attack of mortar incorporating limestone powder as fundamental study to use limestone powder as an addition for concrete. As a results, The method using limestone powder as a part of cement showed decrease of the compressive strength of mortar. The strength of mortar incorporating limestone powder almost decided upon unit cement content. It was recognized that the method replacing limestone powder as a part of cement was effective to decrease the heat of hydration in concrete. The method using limestone powder as a part of fine aggregate showed the considerable increase of the strength and resistance to sulfate attack of concrete. Furthermore, it was recognized that the method using limestone powder as a part of fine aggregate were effective materials as an addition for concrete in view of the improvement of strength and resistance to sulfate attack.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.641-649
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to assess the durability of high-strength concrete with high volume mineral admixture (HVMAC) derived from previous studies within ternary blended concrete (TBC) and normal concrete (NC). Four durability evaluation types such as chloride penetration resistance, freezing and thawing resistance, carbonation resistance in two pre-treatment conditions, and sulfuric acid and sulfate resistance using 5% sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$), 10% sodium sulfate ($Na_2SO_4$), and 10% magnesium sulfate ($MgSO_4$) solution were selected and performed in this study. HVMAC showed the excellent chloride penetration resistance in any age and the freezing and thawing durability close to 100%. In addition, HVMAC affected more reduction in carbonation resistance than TBC. When the curing time was increased, to create a concrete internal organization densely improved resistance to carbonation. HVMAC also showed the most superior in sulfuric acid and sulfate resistance. As the reduction of calcium hydroxide and $C_3A$ to apply a large amount of admixture reduced the swelling and cracking of concrete, the strength reduction and mass change of concrete was found to be small indicated.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.281-282
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• 2009

The purpose of this experimental research is to investigate the influence of mineral admixtures on the resistance to acid and sulfate. For this purpose, concrete specimens with types of mineral admixtures such as ground granulated blast-furnace slag, fly ash, and silica fume were made for water-binder ratios of 32% and 43%. It was observed from the test result that the resistance against acid and sulfate of the concretes containing mineral admixtures were much better than the case of plain concrete from immersion tests of 182 days.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2016

This paper presents an investigation into the durability alkali-activated materials(AAM) mortar and paste samples manufactured using fly-ash(FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBFS) exposed to a sulfate environment with different GGBFS replace ratios(0, 30, 50 and 100%), sodium silicate modules($Ms[SiO_2/Na_2O]$ 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) and initial curing temperatures($23^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$). The tests involved immersions for a period of 6 months into 10% solutions of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. The evolution of compressive strength, weight, length expansion and microstructural observation such as x-ray diffraction were studied. As a results, as higher GGBFS replace ratio or Ms shown higher compressive strengths on 28 days. In case of immersed in 10% sodium sulfate solution, the samples shows increase in long-term strength. However, for samples immersed in magnesium sulfate solutions, the general observation was that the compressive strength decreased after immersion. The most drastic reduction of compressive strength and expansion of weight and length occurred when GGBFS or Ms ratios were higher. Also, the XRD analysis of samples immersed in magnesium sulfate indicated that expansion of AAM caused by gypsum($CaSO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$); the gypsum increased up to 6 months continuously.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.611-617
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• 2009

This paper reports an experimental study on the damage mechanism and resistance of Type I portland cement mortar and paste samples exposed to 5% sodium sulfate solution with different solution temperatures; namely, $4^{\circ}C$, $10^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$. The resistance of mortar samples was evaluated using expansion, compressive strength and flexural strength measurements. Some microstructural observations such as x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy were also introduced to elucidate reactants formed by sulfate attack, especially in a low temperature condition. From the results, it was found that the degree of damage in the mortar samples was significantly associated with the temperature of sulfate solution. Low temperature of the sulfate solution led to the formation of thaumasite in mortar and paste samples, and subsequently a poor resistance to sulfate attack. Thus, it is noted that when concrete structures are exposed to sulfate media in the condition of a cold region or whether, special care should be taken.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.213-214
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• 2010

An objective of this experimental research is to investigate the diffusion characteristics for chloride ion of concrete subjected to sulfate attack. For this purpose, concretes with three types of cement such as ordinary portland cement(OPC), binary blended cement(BBC), and ternary blended cement(TBC) containing mineral admixtures were made for water-binder ratios of 32% and 43%. The concrete specimens were immersed in sulfate solution for 365 days, and then the resistance against chloride ion penetration of them were estimated by using NT BUILD 492. It was observed from the test results that the resistance to chloride ion penetration of concrete subjected to sulfate attack was greatly decreased than that of standard curing concrete under the same age.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.121-128
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• 2007

The present study evaluates the resistance to sulfate attack of cement matrix with or without silica fume. The main variable was the replacement levels of silica fume. In order to introduce sulfate attack to cement matrix, mortars and pastes was exposed to sodium sulfate solution for 510 days. Visual examination, expansion and compressive strength loss of mortars in addition to characteristics of pore for the paste samples were regularly investigated. From the test results, it was clearly observed that the cement matrix with silica fume was very resistant to sulfate attack irrespective of the replacement levels of silica fume. However, the severe deterioration due to sulfate attack was found in cement matrix without silica fume.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5A
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• pp.757-764
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• 2008

This paper was conducted to evaluate the durability of cement mortars exposed to varying concentrations of sodium sulfate for up to 540 days. Three types of cement mortars, namely OPC, SRC and SGC, were exposed to four sodium sulfate solutions with concentrations of 4225, 8450, 16900 and 33800 ppm of ${SO_4}^{2-}$ ions at ambient temperature. The sulfate deterioration was evaluated by measuring compressive strength and linear expansion of mortar specimens. Experimental results indicated that the maximum deterioration was noted in OPC mortar specimens in highly concentrated sulfate solution. In particular, the $C_3A$ content in cements plays a critical role in resisting expansion due to sodium sulfate attack. Additionally, the beneficial effect of GGBS was clearly observed showing a superior resistance against sodium sulfate attack, because of its lower permeability. Another important observation was that the parameters for the evaluation of deterioration degree are greatly dependent on the products formed by sulfate attack.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.6A
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• pp.427-435
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• 2012

In order to evaluate the effects of exposure conditions on the resistance to sulfate attack of normal and blended cement mortars, several mechanical characteristics of the mortars such as expansion, strength and bulk density were regularly monitored for 52 cycles under sodium sulfate attack. The mortar specimens were exposed to 3 different types of exposure conditions; 1) continuous full immersion(Exposure A), continuous half-immersion(Exposure B) and cyclic wetting-drying(Exposure C). Experimental results indicated that the maximum deterioration was noted in OPC mortar specimens subjected to Exposure B, showing the wide cracks in the portions where attacking solution is adjacent to air. Additionally, the beneficial effect of ground granulated blast-furnace slag and silica fume was clearly observed showing a superior resistance against sodium sulfate attack, because of its lower permeability and densified structure. Thus, it is suggested that when concrete made with normal cement is exposed to sulfate environment, proper considerations on the exposure conditions should be taken.