Title: The Resistance of Cements to Ammonium Nitrate Attack

Author(s): Arlindo Goncalves and Xavier Rodriguez

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 126

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1093-1118

Keywords: ammonium nitrate attack; cements; durability; mortars; strength; weight; x-ray diffraction; Materials Research

DOI: 10.14359/2505

Date: 8/1/1991

Abstract:
The durability of different types of cement to ammonium nitrate attack was studied. The tests were conducted on mortar prisms kept in ammonium nitrate solutions at different concentrations, ranging from 0.0 to 50.0 percent. Five types of cement were used: ordinary portland, pozzolanic, blast furnace, aluminous, and supersiliceous. Changes in length and weight were registered during 14 years; also determined were the mechanical strength and changes in composition. Initially, the most concentrated solution was the most aggressive, but due to crystallization of the ammonium nitrate in the pores of the mortar, its relative aggressivity diminished with time, so that it was the 0.5 and 5.0 percent solutions that showed the greatest aggressivity. The aluminous cement showed the best resistance to ammonium nitrate attack. Of the other cements, blast furnace cement was the one which best resisted attack.