The Impact of Chloride and Sulphate Aggressiveness on the Microstructure and Phase Composition of Fly Ash-Slag Mortar
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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Two-way Valorization of Blast Furnace Slag: Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Zeolitic Heavy Metal Adsorbent
Published on: February 21, 2017
Paweł Falaciński1, Agnieszka Machowska1, Łukasz Szarek1
1Faculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska St. 20, 00-653 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
The article discusses the results of examining the impact of aggressive solutions on specimens of mortars with a slag-ash binder. Bar specimens were exposed to unidirectional diffusion of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate for 90 days. Next, the specimens were subjected to flexural and compressive strength tests, ion content tests, XRD phase composition tests, and microstructural SEM-EDS tests. The test results indicated that aggressive solution action resulted in decreased flexural strength, however, it did not impact the compressive strength of mortars. A minor impact of chloride ions on the pH of the pore liquid was recorded, while the tests did not show any influence of sulphate ions. Furthermore, aggressive ion concentration decreased in deeper specimen slices. Specimen phase composition testing after chloride ion action indicated the presence of a small amount of Friedel's salt, while regular sodium chloride crystals were identified in the microscopic image. The performance properties of mortars exposed to the action of aggressive solutions were maintained.
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