Study on Strength and Microstructure of Cement Pastes Containing Limestone Powder under Flowing Acid Solution Condition

Abstract EN

Different cement pastes containing limestone powder were prepared and soaked, respectively, in flowing acetic acid solution with pH value of 4 and sulfuric acid solution with pH value of 2.

The strength and microstructure of the pastes after different flowing acid attack periods were investigated by using strength test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques in this study, which reveals the effect of limestone powder on flowing acid resistance mechanism of cement paste.

Testing results show that the strength of pastes suffered flowing acid attack decreases with the increase of water-binder ratio and the content of limestone powder.

In flowing acetic acid solution, calcium hydroxide and calcium carbonate react with acetic acid, which therefore made deterioration of pastes proceed from the exterior to the interior.

In flowing sulfuric acid solution, although calcium hydroxide and calcium carbonate could react with sulfuric acid and form gypsum, the flowing liquid would dissolve it out and thus the crystallization of gypsum was difficult which would somewhat inhibit the swell of pastes.