Study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under MgSO4 erosion

To clarify the damage mechanism of the layer erosion argillization of concrete eroded by sulfate attack, this study investigates the compressive strength decay characteristics of eroded concrete. It employs ultrasonic velocity, SO42− content, and microhardness testing methods to comprehensively eval...

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Main Authors: Zhongzhe Zhang, Hua Yin, Shuai Hao, Meiqi Cao, Yumeng Du, Yongsheng Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425008506
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author Zhongzhe Zhang
Hua Yin
Shuai Hao
Meiqi Cao
Yumeng Du
Yongsheng Ji
author_facet Zhongzhe Zhang
Hua Yin
Shuai Hao
Meiqi Cao
Yumeng Du
Yongsheng Ji
author_sort Zhongzhe Zhang
collection DOAJ
description To clarify the damage mechanism of the layer erosion argillization of concrete eroded by sulfate attack, this study investigates the compressive strength decay characteristics of eroded concrete. It employs ultrasonic velocity, SO42− content, and microhardness testing methods to comprehensively evaluate the lamination and deterioration processes of concrete at different erosion ages. Additionally, nano-indentation and XRD are utilized to examine the alkali dissipation and deterioration mechanisms of concrete under sulfate attack. The results reveal that sulfate attack in concrete is not a uniform infiltration process but rather a progressive layered erosion that advances inward over time. As the erosion age increases, the C–S–H gel in the affected concrete transitions from a high-density state to a low-density state. The continuous consumption of Ca(OH)2 by MgSO4 induced erosion is identified as the primary driver of alkali depletion and subsequent deterioration. When the alkalinity of the cement matrix can no longer stabilize the C–S–H gel, the external C–S–H gel between cement particles begins to decompose, ultimately leading to the fracturing and disintegration of the cement matrix structure.
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issn 2238-7854
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Materials Research and Technology
spelling doaj-art-b6d570d3d1604d02bb389fd5f6da7f252025-08-20T02:25:35ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-05-01362849286210.1016/j.jmrt.2025.04.029Study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under MgSO4 erosionZhongzhe Zhang0Hua Yin1Shuai Hao2Meiqi Cao3Yumeng Du4Yongsheng Ji5Institute of Transportation, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010070, China; Key Laboratory of Green Resource Utilization of Civil Engineering Waste at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010020, ChinaInstitute of Transportation, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010070, China; Key Laboratory of Green Resource Utilization of Civil Engineering Waste at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010020, China; Corresponding author. Institute of Transportation, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010070, China.School of Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, 010051, China; Corresponding author. School of Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot, 010051, China.Institute of Transportation, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010070, ChinaInstitute of Transportation, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010070, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground of Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground of Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China.To clarify the damage mechanism of the layer erosion argillization of concrete eroded by sulfate attack, this study investigates the compressive strength decay characteristics of eroded concrete. It employs ultrasonic velocity, SO42− content, and microhardness testing methods to comprehensively evaluate the lamination and deterioration processes of concrete at different erosion ages. Additionally, nano-indentation and XRD are utilized to examine the alkali dissipation and deterioration mechanisms of concrete under sulfate attack. The results reveal that sulfate attack in concrete is not a uniform infiltration process but rather a progressive layered erosion that advances inward over time. As the erosion age increases, the C–S–H gel in the affected concrete transitions from a high-density state to a low-density state. The continuous consumption of Ca(OH)2 by MgSO4 induced erosion is identified as the primary driver of alkali depletion and subsequent deterioration. When the alkalinity of the cement matrix can no longer stabilize the C–S–H gel, the external C–S–H gel between cement particles begins to decompose, ultimately leading to the fracturing and disintegration of the cement matrix structure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425008506Sulfate attackLayer erosion argillizationAlkali loss dispersionDeterioration promotion
spellingShingle Zhongzhe Zhang
Hua Yin
Shuai Hao
Meiqi Cao
Yumeng Du
Yongsheng Ji
Study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under MgSO4 erosion
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Sulfate attack
Layer erosion argillization
Alkali loss dispersion
Deterioration promotion
title Study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under MgSO4 erosion
title_full Study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under MgSO4 erosion
title_fullStr Study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under MgSO4 erosion
title_full_unstemmed Study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under MgSO4 erosion
title_short Study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under MgSO4 erosion
title_sort study on the advancement process of alkali loss and deterioration of concrete under mgso4 erosion
topic Sulfate attack
Layer erosion argillization
Alkali loss dispersion
Deterioration promotion
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425008506
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