Reducing Damage Due to Chemical Reactions in Concrete Exposed to Sodium Chloride: Quantification of a Deleterious Chemical Phase Change Formation

Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19131

^* Corresponding author: fma35@drexel.edu

Abstract

It has been shown that sodium chloride can react with the tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) and its hydrates, leading to a formation of a deleterious chemical phase change during thermal cycling. It is believed that this chemical phase change is implicated in the premature deterioration of concrete pavements in the cold regions. This work examines the potential formation of the deleterious chemical phase change in several cementitious pastes made using different types of portland cement and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). The amount of the chemical phase change was quantified using a low-temperature differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicated that the formation of the chemical phase change can be reduced by using cements with low C₃A content. The addition of SCMs showed different effects on the chemical phase change formation. Slag and Class F fly ash could reduce the amount of the chemical phase change due to only the dilution effect whereas silica fume could significantly reduce the amount of the chemical phase change due to the dilution effect as well as pozzolanic reactions. Adversely, the addition of Class C fly ash showed a negative effect through increasing the formation of the chemical phase change.