Durability of cementitious binders with blast furnace slag in deep sea conditions: analysis of microstructure and phase transformation
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Portland cement-blast furnace slag (PC-BFS) cement-based materials exhibit good durability in shallow marine environments but their performance in the deep-sea is poorly understood. This study investigates the degradation of PC-BFS cement pastes after one-year exposure in a deep-sea field site under high hydraulic pressure (3515 m depth) and low temperature (2 °C) conditions. The results show that the main degradation mechanisms involve ettringite formation and Ca leaching, driven by low-temperature seawater ingress under pressure. SEM-EDS and XRD analyses revealed distinct microstructural changes such as Mg and Al enrichment and sulfate/chloride incorporation in BFS rims. Fluorescence imaging confirmed complete seawater infiltration, facilitating BFS dissolution and reprecipitation cycles. The findings highlight the vulnerability of PC-BFS systems to ettringite-induced damage due to their high alumina and low sulfate balance. These insights inform strategies to optimise cementitious materials for deep-sea applications under extreme environments.
Date Issued
2025-10-01
Date Acceptance
2025-05-16
Citation
Cement and Concrete Research, 2025, 196
ISSN
0008-8846
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Cement and Concrete Research
Volume
196
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
10.1016/j.cemconres.2025.107942
Subjects
Blast furnace slag cement
CALCIUM
CHLORIDE DIFFUSION
CONCRETE
Construction & Building Technology
C-S-H
Decalcification
Deep-sea durability
Ettringite formation
FLY-ASH
HYDRATION
Hydraulic pressure
Hydrotalcite-like phases
Materials Science
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
PASTES
PORTLAND-CEMENT
RESISTANCE
Science & Technology
Seawater ingress
SULFATE ATTACK
Technology
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
107942
Date Publish Online
2025-05-22