Title:
Behavior of MgO-Based Cementitious Binder Concrete Under Acidic and Sulphate Environments (Prepublished)
Author(s):
Lalit Singh and Anurag Misra
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
chemical exposure; M-S-H; UPV
DOI:
10.14359/51750605
Date:
3/19/2026
Abstract:
The pressing need to reduce CO₂ emissions from construction materials has driven the development of sustainable alternatives to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). This study investigates a low-carbon ternary binder system—OMF-0.75—comprising 50% OPC, 30% reactive MgO, and 20% fly ash, with 0.75 M magnesium acetate as a hydration agent. Concrete with OMF-0.75 was exposed to 5% Na₂SO₄ and 5% H₂SO₄ solutions for up to 9 months, and its performance was compared to that of OPC concrete. OMF-0.75 exhibited better chemical resistance, with lower mass loss (4.14% in sulfate, 23.75% in acid) and reduced strength degradation (22.23% and 67.65%) compared to OPC (5.68%, 34.22%; 31.22%, 85.58%). UPV retention was higher in OMF-0.75 (3.32 km/s sulfate, 1.66 km/s acid) than in OPC. Microstructural analysis revealed stable M–S–H formation in OMF-0.75, while C–S–H in OPC deteriorated, as evidenced by a Ca/Si ratio below unity. These findings confirm that OMF-0.75 enhances durability and potential as a low-carbon binder for aggressive environments.