Test research on effects of ceramic polishing powder on carbonation and sulphate-corrosion resistance of concrete

• Ceramic polishing powder is a type of waste produced in the production of ceramic polishing bricks.
• Ceramic polishing powder was taken as a supplementary cementing material in concrete.
• Ceramic polishing powder lowered the carbonation resistance of concrete.
• Ceramic polishing powder improved the sulphate corrosion resistance of concrete.

In this research, ceramic polishing powder was taken as a supplementary cementing material to replace cement partly in concrete to produce concrete, in order to research the effects of ceramic polishing powder on the resistance of concrete to carbonation and sulphate corrosion. Twelve groups of concrete (C30) were designed, including 1 group of control concrete; 4 groups of concrete mixed with ceramic polishing powder, with a cement substitution rate of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% respectively; 4 groups of concrete mixed with fly ash, with a cement substitution rate of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% respectively; 3 groups of concrete mixed with ceramic polishing powder and fly ash simultaneously, with a cement substitution rate of 10% (ceramic polishing powder) + 20% (fly ash), 20% (ceramic polishing powder) + 10% (fly ash), 20% (ceramic polishing powder) + 20% (fly ash) respectively. After the concrete carbonation and sulphate corrosion tests were carried out, and some results were obtained. Firstly, the carbonation resistance of concrete mixed with ceramic polishing powder is lower than that of the control concrete, and with the increase in cement substitution rate, the carbonation resistance of concrete shows a declined trend. Secondly, under the same cement substitution rate conditions, the concrete mixed with ceramic polishing powder shows similar carbonation resistance to the concrete mixed with fly ash, and the carbonation resistance of concrete mixed with both ceramic polishing powder and fly ash is similar to that of concrete mixed with either. Thirdly, the sulphate corrosion resistance of concrete mixed with ceramic polishing powder is better than that of the control concrete, and with the increase in cement substitution rate, the sulphate corrosion resistance of concrete shows a rising trend. Finally, under the same cement substitution rate conditions, the sulphate corrosion resistance of concrete mixed with fly ash is better than that of concrete mixed with ceramic polishing powder, and the sulphate corrosion resistance of concrete mixed with both ceramic polishing powder and fly ash is better than that of concrete mixed with either.