ACID ATTACK ON

CONCRETE

Presented by

Narasimhareddy komali

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Introduction
Attack due toH2SO4
Attack due to HNO3
Attack due to CH3COOH
Attack due to HCL
Attack due toH2CO3
Repair to attack
Conclusion
references

INTRODUCTION
Concretes made of Portland cement (OPC) are highly

alkaline with pH values normally above 12.5 and are

not easily attacked by acidic solutions.
At pH values lower than 12.5 portlandite is the first

constituent starting dissolution

If pH decreases to values lower than stability limits of

cement hydrates, then the corresponding hydrate loses

calcium and decomposes to amorphous hydrogel
The

final

reaction

products

of

acid

attack

are

the

corresponding calcium salts of the acid as well as hydrogels

of silicium, aluminum, and ferric oxides

ACID ATTACK

WEAK ACIDS
Acetic acid
Carbolic acid
Carbonic
acid

STRONG ACIDS
Hydrochloric
acid
Sulphuric acid
Sulphurous acid

Lactic acid

Nitric acid

Phosphoric

Hydroflouric

acid
Tannic acid

acid
Hydrobromic

SULPHURIC ACID
ATTACK
Sulphuric acid attack causes extensive formation of gypsum

in the regions close to the surfaces, and tends to cause

disintegrating mechanical stresses which ultimately lead to
spalling and exposure of the fresh surface.
The chemical reactions involved in sulphuric acid attack on

cement based materials can be given as follows:

Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4 CaSO4.2H2O

3CaO.2SiO2.3H2O + H2SO4 CaSO4.2H2O + Si(OH)4

LOS ANGELES SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM

Deterioration of concrete pipe from H2S attack

 Sulphuric

acid

is

highly

reactive

and

reacts

with

calcium

compounds to form gypsum which causes the concrete to soften,

ultimately leading to roof collapse.

Organic matter + SO42- S2- + H2O + CO2

S2- + 2H+ H2S
H2S + 2O2 H2SO4

NITRIC ACID ATTACK

Nitric acid usually occurs in chemical plants producing

explosives, artificial manure and similar products.

Nitric acid can be formed from the compounds and

radicals of nitrates in the presence of water

3NO2 + H2O 2HNO3 + NO
Nitric acid attack can be represented by the following

equations;
2HNO3 + Ca(OH)2 Ca(NO3)2.2H2O
Ca(NO3)2.2H2O + 3CaO.Al2O3.8H2O
3CaO.Al2O3. Ca(NO3)2.10H2O

 Nitric acid attack is a typical acidic corrosion for

shrinkage of the corroded layer due to leaching

of highly soluble calcium nitrate.
Such volume contractions of the corroded layer,

especially for the case of nitric acid, can result

in the formation of visually observable cracks
across the corroded layer.

Variation of compressive strength with acid

concentration (mix ratio 1:1.5:3, W/C = 0.65)

ACETIC ACID ATTACK

Concrete in use in agricultural applications may be

attacked by the silage effluents containing mainly

acetic and lactic acid.
Acetic acid reacts with cement hydration products

to form calcium acetate

2CH3COOH + Ca(OH)2 Ca(CH3COO)2 + 2H2O

2CH3COOH + C-S-H SiO2 + Ca(CH3COO)2 +

2H2O

 Chemical compositions of the core layers in both acetic and

nitric acid attacks are similar

The chemical composition of the corroded layer is different

from that in nitric acid solution of the same concentration

due to higher pH values of the acetic acid solution, and due
to its buffering effect in corroded layer.
In lower concentrations of both acetic and nitric acid

solutions, e.g. 0.025 mol l-1, results in the formation of an

additional zone, called as core-layer, which is relatively
hard and located behind the corroded layer

HYDROCHLORIC ACID
ATTACK
The

chemicals formed as the products of

reaction

between

hydrochloric

acid

and

hydrated cement phases are some soluble salts

and some insoluble salts
Ca(OH)2 + 2HCl CaCl2 + 2H2O
By hydroxide mixture zone, he referred to a

layer formed by undissolved salts seen as a

dark brown ring.

CARBONIC ACID ATTACK

Carbonic acid attack usually occurs in the case of buried

concrete structures exposed to acidic ground water fro

a long time
Atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed by rain enters

ground water as carbonic acid

Factors affecting the rate of carbonic acid attack are;

Quality of concrete
Concentration of aggressive carbon dioxide
External exposure conditions

 When concrete is exposed to carbonic acid, a

reaction producing

carbonates take

place

which is accompanied by shrinkage

However, continued carbonation may cause a

reduction in alkalinity of the cement paste

which can be a serious problem not only in depassivation and corrosion of steel bars but
also in dissolution of cement hydrates.

DWORSHAK
NATIONAL FISH
HATCHERY
ACI 210.1R-94
Deterioration
of
concrete surface of a
tank carbonic acid
Repaired area

 The

Dworshak reservoir collects snow

melt runoff and releases the pure water

during

the

seasonal

incubation

and

rearing phase of the hatchery production

There was high concentration of dissolved

carbon dioxide in the collected water

pH of the collected water was 6.5-7.4

FALLING OF COVER DUE TO

CORROSION OF REINFORCEMENT

Concrete Corrosion Above Water Level

at Adjoining Effluent Trough Segments
19

Concrete Corrosion on Exposed Effluent

Trough Surfaces

Concrete Corrosion in Sludge Valve Box

21

Corroded Drain Pipe

22

Repair Systems and Procedures

For deteriorated concrete
For non-deteriorated concrete and new

concrete

23

For Deteriorated Concrete

Clean and remove loose concrete

from the surface with high pressure

water jetting, 10,000 psi, or
sandblasting.
If reinforcing bars are exposed and

corroded, chip out concrete to

expose around the bars.
Apply a migrating corrosion inhibitor

24

Rebuild the deteriorate surfaces:

Apply an underlayment with a fast-setting,

high early strength, Portland-based

resurfacing material to restore damaged
concrete surfaces where required.
Underlayment should be trowelable or

sprayable formulation for dimensional

rebuilding.
25

Apply an epoxy aggregate filled mortar

intermediate coat (125 mils) by trowelling on

the rebuilt surfaces.
Provide final lining with spray apply sealer

over aggregate filled epoxy base layer.

Minimum thickness of lining should be two (2)
coats of 30-mils each. The sealer provides the
substrate for chemical and water resistance.
Perform spark testing to check for voids or

defects in coating. Repair defects.

26

Troweling underlayment to restore damaged concrete surfaces .

Underlayment with broom finish.

Underlayment with spray finish.

Spray apply final lining (sealer) on ceiling and walls.

30

Application of final lining (sealer coat) on

31

For Non-Deteriorated Concrete and

New Concrete
Clean the concrete surface with with high

pressure water jetting, 10000 psi, or

sandblasting.
Apply a migrating corrosion inhibitor on the

surface.
Trowel in an epoxy filler compound specifically

designed to fill small voids, bugholes and

irregularities in concrete surfaces to provide a
smooth surface.
32

 Filler compound must be compatible with the

protective lining.
Provide final lining with spray apply sealer

over aggregate filled epoxy base layer.

Minimum thickness of lining should be two
(2) coats of 30-mils each. The sealer
provides the substrate for chemical and
water resistance.
Perform spark testing to check for voids or

defects in coating. Repair defects.

33

Surface preparation by sandblasting and grinding .

34

Application of filler epoxy compound to fill small

voids, bug holes and irregularities on beam.

35

Application of filler epoxy compound to fill small voids,

bug holes and irregularities on trough walls.

36

Hand rolling of final lining (sealer coat) on

Partial coating of final lining (sealer

38

Pinholes in sealer coating.

39

Spark testing to detect defects

and pinholes in sealer coating.

40

CONCLUSIONS
In the case of sulphuric acid attack, although the

formation of gypsum has been reported frequently,

there is no agreement on its consequences
Attack

by Acetic acid resembles the process of

corrosion in nitric acid. However the growth of the
corroded layer in solutions of acetic acid is relatively
slower than that in the same concentrations of nitric
acid solution

The chemical composition of the corroded layer is

different from that in nitric acid solution of the same

concentration due to higher pH values of the acetic
acid solution

REFERENCES
Mark G. Richardson, Fundamentals of Durable Reinforced

Concrete, 2002
Ali Allahverdi and Frantisek skvara, Acidic corrosion of
hydrated cement based materials, 2000, Institute of
chemical technology, Department of glass and ceramics
Compendium of Case Histories on Repair of ErosionDamaged Concrete in Hydraulic Structures, ACI 210.1 R-94
(reapproved 1999)
Kolapo O. Olusola and Opeyemi Joshua, Effect of Nitric Acid
Concentration on the Compressive Strength of Laterized
Concrete, Vol. 2, No. 10, 2012
Emmanuel K. Attiogbe and Sami H. Rizkalla, Response of
concrete to sulphuric acid attack, 1989, ACI Material
journal, Title no. 85-M46