Behaviour of silica-concrete based on quartz bond in sulphuric acid

The behaviour of silica-concrete (SC) under the constant or cyclical action of a sulphuric acid medium was considered. It was found that the compressive strength of SC depends on the coarse aggregate type and acid concentration. SC with quartzite aggregate achieved high-quality performance. It had high durability in weak to strong solutions (10–70%) of sulphuric acid for constant and cyclical tests. On the basis of its long-term immersion and cyclical tests in 30% H 2SO 4 the conclusion was reached that SC with quartzite coarse aggregate can be included in the same class as other traditional acid resistant materials, such as acid-resistant engineering brick. Acid permeability under capillary pressure conditions was also examined. It was established that the sulphuric acid can penetrate into SC on the depth of 20 mm. The direct determination of reinforcement corrosion in SC under conditions of capillary sulphuric acid suction showed that the protective layer of 40 mm reliably protected the reinforcement against corrosion: no traces of corrosion on the reinforcement were found for the duration of the experiment (3 years).