Applying high resolution SyXRD analysis on sulfate attacked concrete field samples

STROH, JULIA; SCHLEGEL, M.-C. ; IRASSAR, E. F.; MENG, B. ; EMMERLING, F.

CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 66 p. 19 - 26

0008-8846

High resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SyXRD) was applied for a microstructural profile analysis of concrete deterioration after sulfate attack. The cementmatrices consist of ordinary Portland cement and different amounts of supplementary cementitious materials, such as fly ash, natural pozzolana and granulated blast furnace slag. The changes of the phase composition were determined along the direction of sulfate ingress. This approach allows the identification of reaction fronts and zones of different phase compositions and conclusions about the mechanisms of sulfate attack. Two reaction fronts were localized in the initial 4 mm from the sample surface. Themechanism of deterioration caused by the exposition in the sulfate-bearing soil is discussed. SyXRD is shown to be a reliablemethod for investigation of cementitiousmaterials with aggregates embedded in natural environments.