A reply to a discussion by O. S. B. Al-Amoudi of the paper “a microstructural study of the effect produced by magnesium sulfate on plain and silica fume-bearing portland cement mortars”

✍ Scribed by David Bonen

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 109 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-8846
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-8846(94)90065-5

✦ Synopsis

I am most thankful to Dr. A1-Amoudi for providing data supporting my findings. Evidently, in light of the increase in the use of silica fume concrete, any contribution to the performance of cementitious systems containing silica fume in an aggressive environment is highly commended, as this issue is of much practical importance.

Magnesium sulfate attack on portland cement-based material is probably among the most deleterious forms of attack in nature. This attack results in a massive deposition of gypsum and brucite [Mg(OH)2], followed by decalcification of the CSH and appearance of MSH (magnesium silicate hydrate) as a late-alteration product. 1'2 The consequences of the attack are manifested in the forms of cracking, spalling, softening, mass loss, and ultimately mechanical disintegration of the cementitious binder.