Durability and service life analysis of metakaolin-based geopolymer concretes with respect to chloride penetration using chloride migration test and corrosion potential

Alternative cements with less environmental impact have attracted attention, especially because of the reduced emission of CO2 in their production. Among these binders, geopolymers are obtained from the alkaline activation of materials rich in silica and alumina. They can be derived from industrial byproducts or residues and thus have a reduced environmental impact. However, studies addressing the durability of such binders are recent and often lack consensus in the literature, leading to a gap in the assessment of the service life and the potential for substitution of Portland cement. In this study, geopolymer concrete was produced and compared to Portland cement concrete using the metrics of strength class and water/solids ratio. The geopolymer specimens were tested for porosity, density, sorptivity, pore size distribution, and compressive strength. To verify their durability, chloride migration tests and corrosion potential analyses were conducted. The results indicated that the geopolymers have a similar or superior durability compared to Portland cement concrete. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Geopolymers, as alternative cements with less environmental impact, have been found to have similar or superior durability compared to Portland cement. However, there is still a lack of consensus in studies addressing the durability of geopolymers.