Permeability of Sulfate Ions in Cementitious Materials Containing γ-Ca2SiO4 after Autoclave Curing and Accelerated Carbonation

Sulfate attack on concrete structures is a serious problem around the world, particularly in the Middle East, where sulfate is abundant in soil. Design of a cementitious material with high sulfate resistance is thus required, leading to research on the high durability of cementitious materials containing gamma-Ca2SiO4 (gamma-C2S). The authors have proposed the following material design for high durability: a cementitious material mixed with gamma-C2S and subjected to autoclaving and accelerated carbonation, to give 1.1nm tobermorite in the autoclaved hardened body, and densification at the surface. However, the sulfate resistance of this new material has not been investigated. Therefore, the purpose of the present research is to understand the effect of adding gamma-C2S, autoclaving and accelerated carbonation on the permeability of sulfate ions (crucial for sulfate resistance), from the viewpoint of the reaction products and porosity. The smallest sulfate ion penetration was a sample with 80% replacement ratio of OPC with gamma-C2S. Generation of vaterite following accelerated carbonation suppressed sulfate ion penetration. In addition, dissolution of 1.1nm tobermorite in the hardened body was inhibited. Also, low-Ca/Si C-S-H at the surface may reduce the porosity of this surface and thus contribute to the suppression of sulfate ion penetration.