Effect of limestone filler on the sulfate resistance of low C3A Portland cement

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation of the sulfate resistance of fillerized cements. Test was carried out on mortars containing one type II cement and two type V Portland cements with different C3S contents. Limestone filler was used as 0%, 10%, and 20% of replacement by cement weight. The test method is based on the ASTM C 1012 procedure. Expansion, flexural and compressive strengths, solution consumption, and x-ray diffraction analysis were determined at different exposure times up to 1 year. After 360 days of sulfate immersion, the results indicate that the 10% of limestone filler replacement shows no significant effect on sulfate performance of these cements, whereas 20% of limestone filler (LF) causes detrimental effects on sulfate durability. This behavior can be explained by the changes in the hydration degree, capillary porosity, and type of hydration products produced by LF addition. Gypsum and ettringite were only detected in mortars exposed to sulfate solution. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.