A comparable study on the deterioration of concrete under sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate attack

Abstract

The deterioration mechanisms and corrosion of concrete exposed to Na2SO4 and MgSO4 solution were investigated in the present study. The damage of concrete specimen was evaluated by multi-scale observation, change of mass and relative dynamic modulus. Quantitatively analyse of the compositions for corrosion products during sulfate attack was applied in this study. The concrete was mainly cracked and spalling at the edges and corners when immersed in sodium sulfate solution. But pitting corrosion was formed on the surface of concrete under magnesium sulfate attack, and the powder peels off into a honeycomb hollow structure.