Sodium Sulphate Effect on Cement Produced with Building Stone Waste

Abstract

In this study, the blended cements produced by using the building stone waste were exposed to sulphate solution and the cement properties were examined. Prepared mortar specimens were cured under water for 28 days and then they were exposed to three different proportions of sodium sulphate solution for 125 days. Performances of cements were determined by means of compressive strength and tensile strength tests. The broken parts of some mortar bars were examined with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Besides, they were left under moist atmosphere and their length change was measured and continuously monitored for period of 125 days. In blended cements, solely cements obtained by replacing 10–20% of diatomites gave similar strength values with ordinary Portland cement (CEM I 42.5R) at the ages of 7, 28, and 56 days. In all mortar specimens that included either waste andesite (AP) or marble powder (MP) showed best performance against very severe effective sodium sulphate solutions (13500 mg/L).