Corrosion resistance of cement mortars containing spent catalyst of fluidized bed cracking (FBCC) as an additive

TLDR: In this paper, the chemical corrosion and the mechanical strength were studied in cement mortars containing an additive of FBCC under conditions of long-term action of sodium sulphate solution or saturated brine.

Abstract: The chemical corrosion and the mechanical strength were studied in cement mortars containing an additive of FBCC under conditions of long-term action of sodium sulphate solution or saturated brine. The observations have shown that saturated brine is a more aggressive agent, since it leaches Ca(OH)2 and contributes to the decomposition of the C-S-H phase thus worsening the compressive strength as compared with that of mortars kept in water. The addition of 20% FBCC inhibits the leaching process and counteracts the decrease of compressive strength in mortars kept in brine. On the other hand, sodium sulphate solution changes favourably the mortar microstructure, increases of the content of small pores and improves both the compressive and the flexural strengths, as compared with those of a mortar kept in water.