Acid resistance of inorganic polymer binders. 1. Corrosion rate

The resistance to acid-induced corrosion of inorganic polymer (including fly ash geopolymer) binders is examined, by exposing specimens to nitric and sulphuric acids at pH values between 1 and 3, and measuring the corroded depth as a function of exposure time. The inorganic polymer binders are shown to be affected by acid attack by surface corrosion, which contradicts some previous claims of extremely high acid resistance in such binders. Corroded depth is shown to be a more sensitive measure of the performance of inorganic polymer binders than change in mass, because acid attack on the highly-connected aluminosilicate network of an inorganic polymer binder leads to the formation of an apparently intact, but physically weak and porous, reaction product layer on the sample surface, rather than complete disappearance of the binder as is often the case for other binder types. A strong correlation between permeability and resistance to acid attack is noted across a wide range of inorganic polymer formulations, including samples based on fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and mixtures of the two. The presence of calcium (supplied either by a Class C fly ash or by slag) and of high alkali concentrations each show a positive influence on acid resistance, which is attributed to the reduction in mass transport rates through the finer and more tortuous pore networks of such binders.