Sulphate attack
Concrete can be severly damaged by sulfate attack due to the formation of ettringite, thaumasite and gipsum. In Switzerland, this is mainly a problem in tunnels, where an interaction between concrete and sulfate bearing groundwater can take place and sewage systems. The damage occurring depends on the chemical composition of the cement, its physical properties and the chemical composition of the attacking solution. These factors determine the kind and amount of secondary products formed and thereby the extent of damage to the structure.
We study the influence of different sulfate solutions on systems with various cements experimentally. The results are used for thermodynamic modelling permitting a better understanding of the reactions present. One of this results, it was shown that ettringite forms at an initial state of sulfate attack. Thaumasite is only formed at a latter stage when molar SO3/Al2O3 ratio exceeded 3. A prerequesite for thaumasite formation is the presence of carbonates that can be provided by fillers or the aggregates.
As a way of validation we compare the results of the laboratory experiments with the phenomena on real structures. Furthermore, we look for possibilities to test the sulfate resistance of concrete.
Important publications and documents to sulfate
Google Scholar profile of Andreas Leemann
Research Gate profile of Andreas Leemann
- Leemann, A., Pahlke, H., Loser, R., Winnefeld, F. (2018). Carbonation resistance of mortar produced with alternative cements, Materials and Structures 51, 114
- Leemann, A., & Moro, F. (2017). Carbonation of concrete: the role of CO2 concentration, relative humidity and CO2 buffer capacity. Materials and Structures, 50(1), 30.
- Loser, R., & Leemann, A. (2016). An accelerated sulfate resistance test for concrete. Materials and Structures, 49(8), 3445-3457.
- Leemann, A., Nygaard, P., Kaufmann, J., Loser, R. (2015). Relation between carbonation resistance, mix design and exposure of mortar and concrete. Cement and Concrete Composites, 62, 33-43.
- Leemann, A./Loser, R. Accelerated sulfate resistance test for concrete – chemical and mircrostructural aspects. The 2nd International Conference on Microstructural-related Durability of Cementitious Composites Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 11-13, 2012
- Leemann, A./Loser, R. Analysis of concrete in a vertical ventilation shaft exposed to sulfate-containing groundwater for 45 years. Cement & concrete composites 2011, 74–83
- Leemann, L./Lothenbach, B./Siegrist, H./Hoffmann, C. Influence of water hardness on concrete surface deterioration caused by nitrifying biofilms in wastewater treatment plants. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 64 (2010) 489 - 498
- Leemann, L./Lothenbach, B./Hoffmann, C. Biologically induced concrete deterioration in a wastewater treatment plant assessed by combining microstructural analysis with thermodynamic modeling. Cement and Concrete Research 40 (2010) 1157–1164
- Kunther, W./Lothenbach, B./Scrivener, K. Influence of carbonate in sulfate environments. Concrete in aggressive aqueous environments - Performance, Testing, and Modeling, Toulouse, France, 3-5 June 2009, 498-499. /CP
- Schmidt, T./Lothenbach, B./Scrivener, K. L./Romer, M./Rentsch, D./Figi, R. Conditions for Thaumasite formation. 12th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement, Montréal, Canada, July 8-13, 2007, 12 pp. /CP
- Romer, M./Holzer, L./Pfiffner, M. Swiss tunnel structures: concrete damage by formation of thaumasite. Cement & concrete composites 2003, 25/ISI_SciCi
Research results: collaboration with Cemsuisse
- Sulfatwiderstand und Phasenzusammensetzung moderner Spritzbetone: Abstract 2017
- Karbonatisierungswiderstand von Recyclingbeton
- Berechnung der CO2-Aufnahme während der Nutzungsdauer zementgebundener Baustoffe
- Sulfatwiderstand und Phasenzusammensetzung moderner Spritzbetone
- Prüfung des Sulfatwiderstandes von Beton
- Zusammenhang zwischen der Pufferkapazität, der Diffusivität und des Karbonatisierungswiderstandes von Mischzementen
- CO2-Aufnahme von Stahlbetonbauwerken infolge Karbonatisierung
- Einfluss von Restwasser auf die Frischbetoneigenschaften
- Sulfatwiderstand