Influence of Benzenediols—Pyrocatechol and Resorcinol—On the Resistance of Portland Cement Mortars with Aluminum Sulfate to Sulfate Attack

The effect of benzene-1,2-diol (pyrocatechol) and benzene-1,3-diol (resorcinol) on the development of sulfate attack in Portland cement mortars containing alkali-free setting accelerator (aluminum sulfate) was studied. It has been found that these compounds (especially pyrocatechol—due to its ability to form chelate complexes with aluminum ions) restrain destructive deformations of Portland cement mortars with aluminum sulfate admixture when under test conditions a constant supply of sulfate ions from external source is provided. According to 27Al-MAS NMR data, pyrocatechol does not influence the amount of ettringite formed in Portland cement paste during its store in sodium sulfate solution. Presumably, in presence of benzenediols, in cement mortars with aluminum sulfate admixture the formation of ettringite crystals with a less pronounced destructive effect takes place.

The Impact of Aluminum- and Iron-Bearing Admixtures on the Resistance of Portland Cement Mortars to Alkali-Silica Reaction and Sulfate Attack

Study of sulfate resistance of mortars with aluminum- and iron-bearing admixtures (Al(OH)3, Al2(SO4)3, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3) in conditions close to those established in ASTM C 1012, and the study of the mitigation effect of these admixtures on alkali-silica reaction in accordance with accelerated “mortar bar” test ( GOST 8269.0, ASTM C 1260) were performed. Iron (II) and (III) sulfates show ability for mitigation alkali-silica reaction, while also, in contrast with Al-bearing substances, do not induce the drastic reducing of the initial setting time and do not promote the progress of sulfate corrosion. Compared with FeSO4, iron (III) sulfate has moderate deleterious impact on the early strength of cement paste and can be of interest alone as an inhibitor of ASR. Iron (II) sulfate may be used together with aluminum sulfate to offset the accelerating effect of the latter on the setting of cement paste and to reduce a risk of sulfate corrosion. During prolonged water storage, the mortar elongation and secondary ettringite formation do not occur, even when Al2(SO4)3 is available. Therefore, the investigated admixtures cannot act as agents of internal sulfate attack, however, Al2(SO4)3 can enhance the outer sulfate attack.

Ultrafine Silica Additives Behavior during Alkali-Silica Reaction Long-Term Expansion Test

A silica fume, precipitated silica, metakaolin and siliceous fly ash behavior as constituents of mortars was studied, while mortar samples have been tested for long-term alkali-silica reaction expansion in accordance to the GOST 8269.0 specification. Solid-state 29Si-MAS NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to describe Portland cement hydration, supplementary cementitious material pozzolanic reaction and to establish a structure of products of those processes. It was found that long-term test conditions, in contrast to the accelerated test, do not affect the composition of products formed too much, compared to normal conditions. This allows results obtained with long-term test to be expected as more relevant in terms of predicting of supplementary cementitious materials inhibiting properties.

Hydration of Portland Cement in the Presence of Highly Reactive Metakaolin

The degree of conversion of highly reactive metakaolin in Portland cement metakaolin paste at different ages as well as the influence of metakaolin on the degree of hydration of Portland cement and composition of C-S-H is investigated by?27Al- and 29Si-MAS NMR spectroscopy. At the age of 7 days, in the paste with 10% of metakaolin, the additive is completely consumed. In the 30% substituted cement paste, the content of metakaolin remains quite high (about 40% of the initial amount) even after 3 months of hydration. At the age of 1 - 3 months, the degree of Portland cement hydration in the presence of metakaolin is of 15% - 20% less than without it, probably, due to deficit of water or spatial restrictions. After 7 days of hydration, about half of C-S-H consists of material derived from metakaolin. Metakaolin mainly contributes to Q2 and Q2 (1Al) species, whereas PC does to Q1. After 1 day of hydration, an amount of ettringite in cement paste with high dosage of metakaolin is higher than in pure PC paste.

Peculiar Set-Retarding Effect of Miserly Amounts of Pyrocatechol on Calcium Aluminate Cement Hydration

Pyrocatechol (benzene-1,2-diol) acts upon a calcium aluminate cement (CAC) as a very strong set and hardening retardant and a potent plasticizing agent at the same time. By studying CAC-pyrocatechol compositions using different analytical methods it was shown that pyrocatechol indeed slows CAC hydration and decreases strength of hardening stone. What makes this behavior a peculiar one is that pyrocatechol is known to accelerate Portland cement (PC) setting drastically.