Corrosion and Leaching Studies in Blended Copper Slag Mortar

The effect of copper slag leaching was evaluated using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) immersed in three aqueous media such as tap water, sea water, and synthetic/artificial rain water. The mechanical and corrosion resistance properties of copper slag admixed concrete was evaluated using compression test and various electrochemical tests, respectively. Sand was totally replaced with copper slag in making the concrete specimens. From the investigations it is observed that the copper slag leaching was found to be very less even after 180 days of exposure in aqueous media. Compressive strength revealed that the addition of copper slag increased the compressive strength of the concrete. Rapid Chloride Penetration Test (RCPT) and other electrochemical tests indicated that copper slag admixed mortar performed equal to the sand mortar in sea water environments.