The grout sample was collected during an inspection from the foundation of a heavy duty industrial installation with a fairly aggressive ambient environment.

     Symptoms of the failure were expansion and cracking of a high strength grout after approximately 30 years of service. Purpose of the investigation was a) to identify the root causes of the failure and b) qualify a newly formulated material as suitable for this environment. The analytical tools we employed were optical petrography, SEM evaluation and chemical and mineralogical test by XRF and XRD methods.

    We could identify the corrosion and expansion of iron fillers  used in the grout as primary cause for the deterioration. The expansion due to Alkali-Silica-Reaction (ASR) caused by sub-standard rock aggregates contributed to the failure, as well. We could also establish the presence of aggressive iron and sulfate reducing bacteria cultures in the surrounding environment.

Chemistry of Concrete, Inc.
6409 Camino Vista #E, Goleta CA 93117, USA
Phone: (805)685-9844
Fax: (805)685-9082
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