The effect of cement type on long-term transport properties of self-compacting concretes

• SCC may not be obtained with some of the cements of high pozzolan content.
• CEM II/B-M showed the best performance with respect to permeability properties except RCPT.
• The pore solution chemistry is more important for RCPT than permeability properties.

In this study, four types of pozzolanic cements—CEM II/A-P, CEM II/B-M, CEM II/B-P and CEM IV/B-M, together with CEM I, were used to produce self-compacting concretes. However, it was not possible to obtain self-compacting properties with CEM II/B-P and CEM IV/B-M. The fresh concrete properties and the hardened concrete properties—sorptivity, water penetration under pressure, carbonation and rapid chloride penetration—were determined on the concretes stored in air for 3 years. Drying shrinkage was monitored for up to 4 months, and compressive strengths were measured at the age of 28 days after a standard water curing.