Effect of curing condition on resistance to chloride ingress in concrete using ground granulated blast furnace slag

Abstract

Changes in the salt attack resistance of concrete using ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) were examined based on different curing conditions. These conditions were divided into air and underwater curing. Three concrete mixes with GGBFS replacement ratios of 0% (control group), 30% and 60% were fabricated. Then, evaluation of concrete compressive strength, evaluation of chloride ion diffusion coefficient and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed. As the GGBFS replacement ratio increased, the concrete compressive strength of the air cured specimens decreased compared to the underwater cured specimens. With respect to the chloride ion diffusion coefficient measurements, the coefficient decreased as the GGBFS replacement ratio increased. However, the diffusion coefficient of the air cured specimen relative to the underwater cured ones increased up to two times. The EIS results showed that as the GGBFS replacement ratio increased, |Z| increased in every frequency range. However, the |Z| of the air cured specimen was lower than the underwater cured one. This showed the same tendency as the evaluation results of the chloride ion diffusion coefficient.