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The durability of cement-based structures majorly depends on their resistivity to the aggressive media in the construction environment. The most aggressive ions commonly encountered in construction environment are chloride (Cl−) and sulphate (SO42−). The interactions of these ions with hydrated cement influence their durability and ultimate service life. This paper reports the experimental findings on an investigation on the diffusivity of Cl− and SO42− ions into mortars made from two mixtures: one made from ground calcined clay bricks (GB) and commercial ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and the other consisting of GB and Portland pozzolana cement (PPC). The test media were 3.5% Cl− and 1.75% SO42− solutions. For comparison, commercial OPC and PPC were also investigated. GB was blended with OPC at replacement levels of 25, 35, 45, and 50% to make OPCGB. Similar blends were also made with PPC replacement levels of 15, 20, and 25% to make PPCGB. Mortar prisms measuring 160 mm × 40 mm × 40 mm were cast at the water-to-cement ratios (w/c) of 0.40, 0.50, and 0.60 using each category of cement and cured in water for 3, 7, and 28 days. Compressive strength measurements were taken at each of the curing ages. The 28-day cured mortar prisms were subjected to compressive strength analysis and accelerated Cl− and SO42− ingress for 36 hours at 12 V. Ion profiling was done on the mortars, and diffusion coefficients of the Cl− and SO42− ions were approximated. The results showed that there was an increase in compressive strength after exposure to Cl− and SO42− ions. In addition, the ingress of Cl− and SO42− ions decreased with an increase in depth of cover. Blended cement exhibited lower Cl− and SO42− ingress than OPC. The ingress of Cl− was observed to be higher than that of SO42− ions. The ingress of Cl− and SO42− ions increased with an increase in w/c ratio. The results further showed that there was a drop in the ingress of Cl− and SO42− ions with an increase in replacement up to 35 percent for OPC. A 15 percent replacement showed a better compressive strength development compared with 20 and 25 percent replacement for PPC. Blended cement showed lower apparent diffusion coefficients (Dapp) compared with OPC. PPC, OPCGB-35, and PPCGB-15 exhibited similar performance in terms of strength development, aggressive ions ingress, and Dapp. In conclusion, it was found that the test cements, PPCGB-15 and OPCGB-35, can be used in similar tested environments as commercial PPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement structures are major capital investments globally. However, exposure of cement-based materials to aggressive media such as chloride- and sulphate-laden environments such as coastal areas affects their performance. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is the main cement used in buildings and civil structures such as dams and bridges. This paper reports the findings of an experimental investigation on the effect of ingress of Cl− and SO42− on compressive strength development and the ions' diffusivity in selected OPC brands in Kenya. The aggressive media used included seawater (SW) and wastewater from leather industry (WLI). Three brands of commonly used cements of OPC in Kenya were used. Mortar prisms were prepared from each brand of cement at different water-to-cement ratios (w/c) of 0.5, 0.6, 0.65, and 0.7 and allowed to cure for 28 days in a highly humid environment. The aggressive ions' ingress in the mortar prisms was accelerated using a potential difference of 12 V ± 0.1 V. Analysis of diffusivity and diffusion coefficient of Cl− and SO42− was finally done. Compressive strength analysis was done before (at the 2nd, 7th, 14th, and 28th day) and after exposure to the aggressive ions. The results showed that the diffusivity of chlorides was more pronounced than that of sulphates. Diffusivity was observed to be higher at higher w/c ratios for all cement categories. It was observed that compressive strength increased with curing age, with the highest observed at 28 days. Cement A was generally found to have the highest compressive strength for all w/c ratios. The compressive strength was observed to increase after the mortar prisms were exposed to SW as opposed to the ones exposed to WLI. Generally, it was also observed that the strength gain increased with increase in w/c. The loss in strength was also observed to increase with increase in w/c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports leach and/or intake of SO42−, Cl−, Ca2+, Na+, and K+ from and/or into cement mortar cubes made from a novel cementious material in naturally encountered environmental simulated media. The paper also reports changes in pH of the media over time of exposure to the cement mortar cubes. The compressive strength changes of the test cement in simulated media are also reported. The novel cement, labelled PCDC, made from intermixing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with waste materials which included rice husks, waste bricks, acetylene lime sludge, and spent bleaching earth was previously tested and found to meet the Kenyan Standard requirements for Portland pozzolana cement (PPC). 100 mm mortar cubes were prepared, and their compressive strengths were determined after exposure to the sea water. The media included sea water, distilled water, and solutions of sulphates and chlorides separately for a period of six months. The tests were carried alongside commercial PPC and OPC. The results showed that the PCDC exhibited comparable selected ions intake and/or leach to PPC in sea water, sulphate solutions, and distilled water. In chloride solutions, the cement exhibited the highest leach in the selected ions except K+ and Na+ ions. The results further showed that PCDC exhibited lower pH in all the media compared to OPC and PPC. The tests showed that the novel cement can be used for general construction work in the tested media in a similar manner to PPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]