Permeation properties of high strength self-compacting and vibrated concretes

Metakaolin is a supplementary cementing material (SCM), which has a significant potential to produce High Strength Concrete (HSC) and Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). Because of the lower processing temperature compared to cement clinker, use of metakaolin can contribute to sustainability through energy savings, as well as reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The present study envisages the permeation properties of high strength self-compacting concrete developed using metakaolin and vibrated normal concretes having strength categories of 60, 80, 100, 120 MPa. All the SCCs developed using metakaolin satisfies the criteria of EFNARC guidelines. The permeation properties of the concretes were assessed though water permeability, water absorption, sorptivity and rapid chloride permeability tests. The results indicate that water permeability, water absorption and sorptivity values of both the concretes are comparable. SCCs containing metakaolin exhibited a significant reduction in chloride diffusion for replacements above 15%. Thus, the overall results show that metakaolin possesses significant potential as an efficient pozzolanic mineral admixture for the production of high strength SCC with promisingly superior permeation properties.