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Chemical evolution of alkali–silicate reaction (ASR) products: a Raman spectroscopic investigation

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to use Raman spectroscopy to study the morphology and chemical changes of alkali–silicate reaction (ASR) products over time. The reaction products induced by ASR on soda-lime glass slides in a high temperature alkaline environment (1 N NaOH at 80 °C) enriched with calcium hydroxide were studied at 0, 1, 4, 7, 14 and 28 days. The results show that the morphology of the granular-like and fan-like fascicles structure that formed at early ages was more ordered in terms of polymerization and dominated by Q3 and Q2 units. This information implies that the ASR products were probably of mainly alkali silica composition with low content of calcium in the structure. As the reaction proceeded the products depolymerized, forming a cloud-like morphology of decreased structural order which surrounded the initial product particles. It can be hypothesized that more calcium ions in the soak solution entered into the particle structure, promoting a depolymerization and possible formation of a C–S–H phase which was indicated by the dominant presence of Q1 units after 7 days of exposure. To corroborate the interpretation of Raman spectra, 28-day ASR products were verified by Fourier transform infrared.

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Acknowledgements

The first author would like to thank the National Research Council (NRC) Research Associateship Program (RAP) for funding supports.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, Federal Highway Administration, 6300 Georgetown Pike, Mclean, VA, 22101, USA

    Tung-Chai Ling & Jack Youtcheff

  2. College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China

    Tung-Chai Ling

  3. Chemistry Laboratory, SES Group & Associates LLC, Chesapeake City, MD, USA

    Chandni Balachandran & Jose F. Munoz

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  1. Tung-Chai Ling
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  2. Chandni Balachandran
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  3. Jose F. Munoz
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Correspondence to Tung-Chai Ling.

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The authors do not have any conflicts of interest that could inappropriately influence this work. The conclusions are the professional opinion of the authors, and do not represent any official policy of FHWA.

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Ling, TC., Balachandran, C., Munoz, J.F. et al. Chemical evolution of alkali–silicate reaction (ASR) products: a Raman spectroscopic investigation. Mater Struct 51, 23 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-018-1151-x

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