Search Results (4)

This study investigated the effects of calcium carbide slag (CCS) (0–12 wt%) incorporation on the workability, electrochemical properties, durability, and microstructure evolution of sulfoaluminate cement (SAC) mortar. Results showed that increasing CCS content reduced mortar fluidity and shortened setting time, indicating that CCS accelerates early hydration. A 9% CCS content was determined to be the optimal dosage; at 28 days, compared to the control group, this dosage group exhibited a 6.53% increase in compressive strength, a 22.47% decrease in drying shrinkage, and a 0.279% decrease in mass loss. These performance improvements stemmed from CCS’s ability to inhibit pore connectivity and limit moisture migration. Electrochemical analysis further revealed that the 9% CCS dosage group had the highest charge transfer resistance and resistivity (30.00% higher than the control group), reflecting a denser matrix and greater ion transport resistance. Consequently, chloride ion permeability was significantly reduced, with electrical flux and diffusion coefficient decreasing by 39.98% and 28.89%, respectively. Microstructural observations confirmed that CCS promotes the formation and densification of hydration products, effectively improving the internal pore structure. While 9% CCS can serve as an effective functional supplementary material, its long-term durability and sustainability still face practical application challenges. Future research should focus on establishing predictive models for chloride ion permeation lifetime and conducting quantitative sustainability assessments of CCS-SAC composites, particularly evaluating material cost, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions. Full article

To address the issues of insufficient protection and poor durability in concrete during service, this study developed a novel polymer–silicate composite gel system by combining silane with fluorocarbon resin emulsion and applied it to mortar specimens. The chloride ion resistance enhancement of mortar provided by the novel gel system was evaluated using the RCM method and natural chloride ion penetration tests, with SEM images employed to analyze its anti-permeation mechanism. Results indicate that the chloride ion migration coefficient of the novel composite gel system is 4.91 × 10⁻¹² m²/s, representing a 63.97% reduction compared to the single fluorocarbon gel system. Within the 0–5 mm depth range, free chloride ion contents at 14, 28, and 56 days decreased by 55.35%, 50.10%, and 43.64%, respectively, demonstrating excellent resistance to chloride penetration. Acid and alkali resistance tests demonstrated that the system retained the inherent corrosion resistance of the fluorocarbon component. Carbonation tests demonstrated that the system exhibited a slight decrease in carbonation resistance compared with the pure fluorocarbon gel system, while still maintaining a satisfactory performance level. Overall, the polymer-silicate composite gel system significantly enhanced the mortar’s resistance to chloride ion penetration. Full article

This experimental study is carried out in order to improve the properties of sulfate-attacked concrete. The concrete specimens were immersed in 15% Na₂SO₄ solution before being protected with a concrete repairing agent (CRA). The effects of sulfate corrosion time, the curing time after being attacked, and the concrete repairing agent on concrete were investigated. The experimental results indicate that the properties slightly increased after being attacked by sulfate for 60 days than for 30 days. However, they decreased after being attacked by sulfate for 90 days. CRA could effectively improve the properties of sulfate-attacked concrete. After being re-cured for 7 days, the properties of the sulfate-attacked concrete were significantly improved in comparison with those of the specimens taken out from the sulfate solution immediately. When the specimens were attacked for three months, the compressive strength of specimens coated with CRA was increased by 6.1%, 6.4%, and 6.4% compared to that of the specimens without CRA after being cured for 7 to 56 days, respectively. The carbonation depth of concrete specimens with CRA was reduced by 4.6%, 8.3%, and 4.9%, respectively. However, the chloride ion permeation coefficient of concrete with CRA decreased by 20.3%, 28.5%, and 28.7%, respectively, for the concrete immersed in sulfate for one month. Full article

Building structures are prone to cracking, leakage, and corrosion under complex loads and harsh marine environments, which seriously affect their durability performance. To design cementitious composites with excellent mechanical and impermeability properties, Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs) doped with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene short-cut fibers (PE-ECCs) were used as the reference group. Different types (XYPEX-type from Canada, SY1000-type from China) and doses (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%) of Cementitious Capillary Crystalline Waterproofing materials (CCCWs) were incorporated. The effect of CCCWs on the mechanical and impermeability properties of PE-ECCs, and the microscopic changes, were investigated to determine the best type of CCCW to use and the best amount of doping. The results showed that with increasing the CCCW dosage, the effects of both CCCWs on the mechanical and impermeability properties of PE-ECC increased and then decreased, and that the best mechanical and impermeability properties of PE-ECC were achieved when the CCCW dosing was 1.0%. The mechanical properties of the PE-ECC were more obviously improved by XYPEX-type CCCW, with a compressive strength of 53.8 MPa, flexural strength of 11.8 MPa, an ultimate tensile stress of 5.56 MPa, and an ultimate tensile strain of 7.53 MPa, which were 37.95%, 53.25%, 14.17%, and 21.65% higher than those of the reference group, respectively. The effects of the two CCCWs on impermeability were comparable. CCCW-PE-ECC(X1.0%) and CCCW-PE-ECC(S1.0%) showed the smallest permeation heights, 2.6 mm and 2.8 mm, respectively. The chloride ion diffusion coefficients of CCCW-PE-ECC(X1.0%) and CCCW-PE-ECC(S1.0%) exhibited the smallest values, 0.15 × 10⁻¹² m²/s and 0.10 × 10⁻¹² m²/s, respectively. Micromorphological tests showed that the particle size of the XYPEX-type CCCW was finer, and the intensity of the diffraction peaks of C-S-H and CaCO₃ of PE-ECC increased after doping with two suitable doping amounts of CCCW. The pore structure was improved, the surface of the matrix was smoother, and the degree of erosion of hydration products on the fiber surface was reduced after chloride ion penetration. XYPEX-type CCCW demonstrated a more obvious improvement in the PE-ECC pore structure. Full article