Durability of copper slag contained concrete exposed to sulfate attack

Sulfate attack is one of several chemical mechanisms of concrete deterioration. Exposure of concrete structures in the sulfate environments may lead to detrimental chemical, microstructural, and physical changes in the concrete matrix, resulting in serious deteriorations and service life reduction. Partial replacement of cement with slag is one of the efficient methods for improving concrete resistance against sulfate attack. In this paper the performance of copper slag contained concrete in sulfate solution is investigated. In this regard, an experimental study including expansion measurements, compressive strength degradation and microstructural analysis were conducted in sulfate solution on concretes made by replacing 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% of cement with copper slag waste. The results of this study emphasized the effectiveness of copper slag replacement in improving the concrete resistance against sulfate attack. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.