SULPHATE ATTACK

By: Samrawit Aysheshim

ID Number: UGR/3890/12
 INTRODUCTION

• Sulphates occur in both soil and ground water.

• Solid sulphate does not attack the concrete severely.

• But water sulphates enter into the porous concrete and react
with the hardened cement past products forming a whitish
appearance.

• This indicates Sulphate Attack.

 DEFINITION

• Sulphate attack is a degradation process in which sulphate ions

strike the constituents of cement paste

• Water-soluble sulphate-containing salts such as alkali-earth

(calcium, magnesium) and alkali (sodium, potassium)
sulphates, which are chemically reactive with concrete
components, cause sulphate attack.
 DEFINITION CONT’D

• Increase in the volume of cement paste in concrete or mortar

due to the chemical reaction between the products of HCP and
solution containing sulphates.

• In hardened concrete, calcium-silicate- hydrate can react with

sulphate salt from outside, forming calcium sulphoaluminate in
the framework of HCP.

• Due to the increase in volume of the solid phase( which can go

up to 227%),a gradual disintegration of concrete take place.
 CAUSES OF SULPHATE ATTACK

• Sulphate sources might be internal or external.

• Internal sources are less common, appear with materials such
as hydraulic cements, fly ash, aggregate, and admixtures.
• External sources are more common, typically soils and ground
water have high-sulphate content.
 CAUSES CON’D

• Seawater
• Oxidation of sulphate minerals in clay adjacent to the concrete
- this can produce sulphuric acid which reacts with the concrete
• Bacterial action in sewers - anaerobic bacterial produce sulphur
dioxide which dissolves in water and then oxidizes to form
sulfuric acid
• In masonry, sulphates present in bricks and can be gradually
released over a long period of time, causing sulphate attack of
mortar.
 CAUSES CON’D

Delayed ettringite formation

•DEF is a special case of internal sulfate attack.
•DEF occurs if the ettringite which normally forms during
hydration is decomposed, then subsequently re-forms in the
hardened concrete.
•Sulphate ions released by decomposition of ettringnite are
absorbed by CSH. Then reformation of ettringnite take place.
•Damage to the concrete occurs when the ettringite crystals exert
an expansive force within the concrete as they grow.
 CAUSES CON’D

• DEF causes a characteristic form of damage to the concrete.

While the paste expands, the aggregate does not.

Delayed ettringite formation

 CAUSES CON’D

• The cement paste has expanded and a gap has formed between
the aggregate and the cement paste.

• The aggregate is no longer contributing to concrete strength,

since it is effectively detached from the cement paste.

• Often, these gaps become filled with ettringite.

 CAUSES CON’D

Conditions necessary for DEF to occur are:

• High temperature (above 65-70 degrees C approx.), usually

during curing but not necessarily
• Water: intermittent or permanent saturation after curing
• Commonly associated with alkali-silica reaction (ASR)
 EFFECTS OF SULPHATE ATTACK

• May vary in type or severity but commonly include:

• Extensive cracking
• Expansion
• Loss of bond between the cement paste and aggregate
• This results in the paste to be weakened and overall decrease in
strength of concrete.
 EFFECTS…CON’D

sulphate attack in concrete

•Ettringite (arrowed) has replaced some of the calcium silicate
hydrate (gives durability, high resistance to aggressive
environments..)in the cement paste.
•The darker areas of paste have been partly decalcified.
EFFECTS…CON’D
 MEASURES TO BE TAKEN

• Proper screening and testing procedures should generally avoid

internal sulfate attack.
• Using sulphate resisting cement
• Air- Entrainment in concrete up to 6%
• The use of high alumina cement.
• Proper placement, compaction, finishing and curing of concrete
are essential to minimize the ingress and movement of water.
 REFERENCE

• Overview of Concrete Deterioration Due to Sulphate Attack by

Diala Basim Al-Haddad
• https://www.slideshare.net/Krishnagnr/sulphate-attack-555990
05
• Deterioration processes in reinforced concrete: an overview by
D.Breysse.