Analysis of long-term corrosion behavior in mortars containing recycled ladle furnace slag using computerized tomography and SEM

Abstract

A series of mortars subjected to accelerated corrosion in a humid environment form the basis for this study. In particular, we studied the corrosion behavior of steel reinforcement bars that were embedded in cement mortars that contained white ladle furnace slag (LFS) in partial substitution for fines and cement. The effects were observed using computerized axial tomography and scanning electron microscopy. Zones with fissures resulting from corrosion and the degree of damage due to passivation were identified from the imaging analysis. Mortars with and without white LFS behaved in a similar manner in the presence of chlorides. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the formation of different hematite and goethite-type iron oxides was mainly responsible for the corrosion that was observed. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.