Effect of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag, Pulverized Fuel Ash, Silica Fume on Sulfuric Acid Corrosion Resistance of Cement Matrix

In this study, the effect of supplementary materials(GGBS, PFA, SF) on sulfuric acid corrosion resistance was assessed by measuring the compressive strength, corroded depth and weight change at 7, 28, 56, 91, 180 and 250 days of immersion in sulfuric acid solution with the pH of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. Then, it was found that an increase in the duration of immersion and a decrease in the pH, as expected, resulted in a more severe corrosion irrespective of binders: increased corroded depth and weight change, and lowered the compressive strength. 60% GGBS mortar specimen was the most resistant to acid corrosion in terms of the corroded depth, weight change and compressive strength, due to the latent hydraulic characteristics and lower portion of calcium hydroxide. The order of resistance to acid was 60% GGBS>20% PFA>10% SF>OPC. In a microscopic examination, it was found that acid corrosion of cement matrix produced gypsum, as a result of decomposition of hydration products, which may loose the structure of cement matrix, thereby leading to a remarkable decrease of concrete properties.