Effect of Temperature on the Hydration, Chloride Penetration Resistance, and Chloride-Binding Capacity of Ferric-Rich Sulfoaluminate Cement

Ferric-rich sulfoaluminate cement (FAC) possesses several advantages, such as low carbon emissions, high early strength, and low permeability, making it a promising alternative in marine engineering to portland cement (PC). This study explored the effect of temperature on the hydration, chloride penetration resistance, and chloride-binding capacity of FAC. The influence mechanism of temperature on FAC performance was revealed by characterizing the changes in hydration products and micro pore structure. The results showed that curing temperature does not alter the main hydration products of FAC, whereas curing at low temperatures delayed the early hydration rate and reduced early strength. Meanwhile, the pore structure of FAC could be refined under low temperatures, leading to an improvement in subsequent strength and its chloride penetration resistance. When immersed in chlorine solution, FAC could bind chloride ions through chemical reactions and physical absorption, and the amount of chloride bound by these chemical and physical processes increased with rising immersion temperatures. Consequently, the binding capacity of FAC toward chloride ions increased as the temperature increased.