Influence of pozzolanic admixtures on concrete pore water pH, chloride diffusion and chloride binding

This report describes the results obtained from reinforced concrete slabs having different fly ash and silica fume content. The specimens are submitted to periodic seawater ponding. PH measurements as well as free and total chloride analyses were achieved at 1213 days in order to study the alkalinity, resistance to chloride ingress and binding properties afforded by each mix design. Water absorption experiments were also conducted at different relative humidities and in water. Pore water pH was found to decrease with increasing admixture content and increasing relative humidity. The permeability to chloride ions was significantly reduced in the fly ash blends whereas most of the silica fume blends exhibited effective diffusion coefficients and chloride concentrations at the depth of steel marginally better than the controls. Both the fly ash and silica fume blends showed similar binding capacity at a given replacement ratio, the percentage of bound chloride increasing with increasing admixture content.