Whether chloride resistance is highly influenced by chloride binding capacity remains unknown. In this study, the chloride resistance of Portland cement-based mortar incorporating aluminate cement and calcium carbonate was investigated considering the chloride binding capacity, pore structures and chloride diffusion coefficient from non-steady state chloride migration and natural chloride diffusion. The cement hydrates were investigated using X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The chloride binding capacity was evaluated based on the chloride adsorption from the solutions using the adsorption isotherm. The aluminate cement, as an available alumina source, can stimulate the formulation of layered double hydroxides, which in turn can increase the chloride binding capacity. The results of mercury intrusion porosimetry show that non-substituted (control) and substituted (only aluminate cement) specimens have capillary pore volume 8.9 vol % and 8.2 vol %, respectively. However, the specimen substituted with aluminate cement and calcium carbonate shows a higher capillary volume (12.9 vol %), which correlates with the chloride diffusion coefficient. Although the specimen substituted with calcium carbonate has a higher chloride binding capacity than the control, it does not necessarily affect the decrease in the chloride diffusion coefficient. The capillary pore volume can affect not only the chloride diffusion but also the chloride adsorption.
Keywords: Portland cement; aluminate cement; calcium carbonate; capillary pore volume; chloride binding capacity; chloride diffusion.