2020/10/12 No More Low-Alkali Cement? Why?!

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Beginning in 2019 there will no longer be
“low-alkali cement”! What? Has the
portland cement manufacturing process
changed such that low-alkali cement
doesn’t exist anymore? The answer is NO.
But in June of 2019 ASTM C150 Standard
Specification for Portland Cement will
eliminate the “low-alkali” optional
requirement or designation in the standard.
Why the change? Let’s first review some
background.

What are alkalies?

Alkalies in portland cement are comprised
of the ions sodium (Na+) and potassium
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(K+) and are inherently present in the raw

materials used to produce portland cement.
Alkalies are present in low amounts
generally ranging from a few tenths of a
percent up to about one percent. Alkalies
are reported as the “Equivalent Alkali”
content and is often denoted as “Na2Oeq”.
Na2Oeq is calculated as the sum of Na2O +
0.685 K2O.

Why the Concern for Alkalies in Portland

Cement?
The key concern is the alkali-silica reaction
or ASR. Certain aggregate types have
amorphous (glassy) and/or poorly
crystalized forms of silica which can react
with alkalies derived from the portland
cement. This reaction forms an alkali-silica
gel which can swell causing a deleterious
expansion within either the aggregate
particle, the cement paste, or both that can
lead to cracking and subsequent
degradation of the concrete. Four factors
must be present for deleterious ASR to
occur: reactive forms of silica, a sufficient
quantity of alkali, a source of soluble
calcium, and moisture. ASR was first
identifi
ed and
reporte
d on as
early as
1940
by T.E.
Stanto
n as
the
cause
of
concret
e
deterio
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ration
in
Califor
nia. Subsequent research indicated that if
the alkali content of the portland cement
was below a certain level the deleterious
ASR reaction did not occur. This was the
basis for the adoption of the maximum
alkali limit of 0.60% (expressed as Na2Oeq)
to designate “low alkali” portland cement in
ASTM C150 in 1961 as a means to avoid the
potential for ASR. However a limit on
alkalies of the portland cement alone did
not address the alkali content in concrete
which is a function of the cement content.
As design strength requirements and
corresponding cement contents continued
to increase over the decades the concept of
limiting the alkali content of just the
portland cement itself did not seem to
provide adequate assurance for the
avoidance of ASR.

A New Approach
It became apparent that the total alkali
content or “alkali loading” of the concrete
was the more important factor related to
ASR (i.e. portland cement alkali content
times the Portland cement content).
Continued research had demonstrated that
an alkali loading on the order of 5
lbs./cu.yd. is an appropriate threshold for
many reactive aggregates; below this level
deleterious ASR is unlikely and above the
level it is possible. In 2014 ASTM adopted
ASTM C1778 Standard Guide for Reducing
the Risk of Deleterious Alkali-Aggregate
Reaction in Concrete. ASTM C1778 provides
a systematic approach to address concerns
related to the selection of concrete making
materials to avoid ASR using either a
prescriptive approach or a performance
approach If the aggregates have been
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2020/10/12 No More Low-Alkali Cement? Why?! | The Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association
approach. If the aggregates have been
shown to be non-deleterious reactive by
test C1260 or C1293 then no special
precautions are needed. On the other hand,
if the aggregates are deemed potentially
reactive then some measures are required
to avoid the potential for ASR.

The Prescriptive Approach

Under the prescriptive approach a “Level of
Prevention” has to first be determined. This
is based upon the potential reactivity of the
aggregates, exposure conditions, and
severity of consequences of ASR to the
structure. Once the prevention level is
established then either of two prescriptive
options can be used.

Option 1 – Limit the alkali loading of the

concrete. Calculate the alkali loading based
upon the alkali content of the Portland
cement alone; do not include alkalies
contained in SCMs. The maximum
permissible alkali loading will be in the
range of 3 lbs./cubic yard to 5 lbs./cubic
yard. If the alkali loading is less than the
permissible limit then no further measures
need to be taken.

Option 2 – Use an SCM. However, if the

alkali loading is greater than the permissible
limit then use an SCM at a minimum
replacement level as prescribed to mitigate
potential deleterious ASR. In extreme cases
both a prescribed replacement with an SCM
and limiting alkali loading may be required.

The Performance Approach

ASTM C1778 also allows for a performance
based assessment to mitigate ASR. Under
the performance criteria the SCM must be
validated to mitigate as tested by either
ASTM C1567 or C1293 using the aggregates
proposed for use and at the SCM
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replacement level proposed for use. The

need to avoid potentially deleterious ASR is
now recognized in ACI 318 Building Code
Requirements for Structural Concrete.
Beginning with the 2019 edition of ACI 318
documentation related to the potential
aggregate reactivity and proposed ASR
mitigation will now be required. ASTM
C1778 is cited in the ACI 318-19
Commentary as an appropriate method for
addressing the materials evaluation and
selection to avoid deleterious ASR.

The alkali content of portland cements will

still be in the ranges typical for a given
manufacturing source. There will still be
portland cements of lower alkali content
and portland cements of higher alkali
content – just there will be no longer the
designation of “Low-Alkali Cement”. For
projects where an alkali content below a
certain level (e.g. 0.60%) is desired this
must be stipulated – just using the
terminology “low-alkali cement” will no
longer be accurate.

Courtesy of Robert E. Neal, FACI Technical

Services Engineer with Lehigh Cement Co.

HEADQUARTERS
Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association
250 West Main Street • Suite 100
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
(434) 977-3716 • (434) 979-2439 fax

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