A state-of-the-art review on delayed ettringite attack on concrete

The paper presents a critical review of the sulphate attack related to ettringite formation. This process is associated with expansion. However, not necessarily any ettringite-related expansion is related to the sulphate attack. For example, early ettringite formation which occurs immediately (within hours) in a plastic fresh mixture does not produce any damaging expansion and is associated with the regulation of setting time of Portland cement paste. Expansion after the hardening of cement paste can be advantageously used for the development of chemical prestress in expansive cements. Delayed ettringite formation (DEF) occurs at late ages and the related heterogeneous expansion in a hardened concrete can produce cracking and spalling. Two different types of DEF are examined depending on the sulphate source: DEF caused by external sulphate attack or internal sulphate attack. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.