Influences of high-sulphur fly ash on the properties of lightweight cement-treated materials subjected to sulphate corrosion

Abstract

In this study, the effects of high-sulphur fly ash on the properties of lightweight cement-treated materials (LCMs) immersed in sodium sulphate solutions were studied. The unconfined compressive strength of LCMs corroded by sulphate was tested. The microscopic properties were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that high-sulphur fly ash has an adverse effect on the structural strength of LCMs after corrosion, but when the content of fly ash is less than 75%, the effect of fly ash on the strength is small. A small amount of high-sulphur fly ash can improve the density of the material structure; the internal pore structure of LCMs provides space for the growth of ettringite and other corrosive substances and relieves the expansion pressure. LCMs mixed with high-sulphur fly ash have a certain resistance to sodium sulphate corrosion.