Limitations of Köch-Steinegger test to evaluate the durability of cement pastes in acid medium

The durability of ordinary Portland cement and ground granulated blast furnace slag pastes in buffered acetic/acetate medium (pH 4.5) was studied by means of the Köch-Steinegger test. Results show that flexural strength measurement is not a good parameter to evaluate the degradation degree of cement paste in acid medium because two effects take place with opposite consequences on flexural strength as a result of acid attack: a densification of the cement paste in the specimen core and a degradation of the outer surface with loss of resistance.