Using Limestone Dust and Superplasticizer to Reduce Permeability and Improve Durability of Concrete Exposed to Sulfuric Acid

The effects of limestone dust and superplasticizer upon the permeability, mechanical properties and durability of concrete exposed to sulfuric acid have been investigated. The properties of admixtured concrete and conventional concrete are compared. The coefficient of permeability of admixtured concrete was lower than that of normal concrete by 91.44%. The results indicated that the mechanical properties (compressive, splitting and flexural) strengths of superplasticized limestone dust concrete were higher than of normal reference concrete at all ages of concrete. The compressive strength of superplasticized concrete containing limestone dust were 46.94%, 49.48% and 47.59% more than that of reference concrete at ages 28, 60 and 90 days, respectively. The decreasing ratios in compressive strength of normal and superplasticized limestone dust concrete were (21.41%, 55.73% and 65.80%) and (20.46%, 43.81% and 54.20%) at 28,60 and 90 days of exposure to sulfuric acid, respectively.