Resistance of CEM III/B based materials to acid attack

Abstract

Cement based materials in the agricultural and other industrial structures are exposed to acid attack. That is the reason why the service life of structure depends on the durability of mortar or concrete elements in aggressive environment. Resistance to corrosion caused by sulphate, nitrate, carbamide, lactic acid and acetic acid was presented. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the effect of aggressive solutions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of mortar. The chemical resistance of mortar prisms and two types of concrete were tested according to the Koch-Steinegger method. As the condition for resistance in aggressive solution is that flexural strength of mortar prisms is no less than 70 % compared to referent prisms cured in water it can be concluded that mortar and concrete made with CEM III/B in this investigation are resistant to all treated acids.