Concrete deterioration under alternate action of carbonation and sulfate attack

Abstract

By micro- and macro-observations, the study reveals the deterioration mechanisms of concrete under alternate action of carbonation and sodium sulfate solution attack (C-SA) comparied with the single sodium sulfate solution attack (SA). The studies indicate that in both cases, the main attack product is ettringite, some gypsum is checked only in the first layer of case SA, the thaumasite form of sulfate attack is not initiated in case C-SA. Compared with the single sodium sulfate solution attack, although the carbonation layer mitigates the extent of sulfate attack in limited exposure period, the alternate action of carbonation and sulfate attack still leads to strength degradation to some extent. The effect of carbonation on sulfate attack for longer exposure period deserves further research. © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2013.