FREEZE-THAW AND FREEZE-DEICING SALT RESISTANCE OF CONCRETES CONTAINING CEMENT RICH IN GRANULATED BLAST FURNACE SLAG

Whereas blast furnace cement concretes have proved successful in structures subjected to freeze-thaw attack, their use in structures subjected to freeze-deicing salt attack is still a problem. The present paper discusses the causes of this controversy. It was found that the freeze-deicing salt resistance of blast furnace cement concretes is closely related to the carbonation of the surface area. The carbonation of blast furnace cement concretes does not only lead to an increase in capillary porosity but also to metastable calcium carbonates soluble in NaCl. Based on the results of investigations, ways of improving the freeze-deicing salt resistance of blast furnace cement concretes are proposed.