Resistance of Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete to Chloride-Induced Corrosion

The corrosion resistance of steel in alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar was evaluated by a monitoring of the galvanic current and half-cell potential with time against a chloride-contaminated environment. For chloride transport, rapid chloride penetration test was performed, and chloride binding capacity of AAS was evaluated at a given chloride. Themortar/paste specimens were manufactured with ground granulated blast-furnace slag, instead of Portland cement, and alkali activators were added in mixing water, including Ca(OH)(2), KOH and NaOH, to activate hydration process. As a result, it was found that the corrosion behavior was strongly dependent on the type of alkali activator: the AAS containing the Ca(OH)(2) activator was the most passive in monitoring of the galvanic corrosion and half-cell potential, whileKOH, and NaOH activators indicated a similar level of corrosion to Portland cement mortar (control). Despite a lower binding of chloride ions in the paste, the AAS had quite a higher resistance to chloride transport in rapid chloride penetration, presumably due to the lower level of capillary pores, which was ensured by the pore distribution of AAS mortar in mercury intrusion porosimetry.This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Grant no. 2012R1A1A1014432) and supported by a Grant 14RDRP-B076268 from Regional Development Research Program funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructures, and Transport of Korean Government