Acid, alkali and chloride resistance of high volume fly ash concrete

Abstract

Objectives: To find variation in compressive strength and mass of high volume fly ash concrete samples subjected to different chemical solutions of sodium chloride, sodium sulphate and sulphuric acid. Methods: A total of 900 numbers of cubes were cast and cured with four levels of curing period of 28, 56, 90 and 120 days. After certain duration of curing period, specific numbers (60) of cubes were submerged each in 5 percent sodium sulphate solution (Na<inf>2</inf>SO<inf>4</inf>), 5 percent sodium chloride solution (NaCl) and 1percent of sulphuric acid solution (H<inf>2</inf>SO<inf>4</inf>) separately in chemical exposure containers for an exposure period of 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. Findings: Investigations with respect to acid, alkali and chloride resistance were carried out on high volume fly ash concrete, HFC (40 percent replacement with cement), low volume fly ash concrete, LFC (25 percent replacement with cement) and their performances against control concrete (NC) is presented in this paper. Their performance was measured with respect to the loss in compressive strength and weight of the concrete cubes over the period of exposure time. It is found that the resistance of control concrete to all the three chemical attack is better only up to 28 days of water curing. At 56 days of water curing LFC shows better resistance against the control and HFC. However, with prolonged water curing of cubes of 90 days and more, HFC has consistently shown highest resistance; whereas the control concrete faced a great loss in strength.