Chemicals That Damage Concrete

Mastour ReadyMix is one of the largest concrete manufacturing companies located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with ready mix concrete and cement plants in Jedda saudi Arabia, Khamis Mushayt Saudi Arabia, Abha Saudi Arabia, Dammam Saudi Arabia,

Natural drinkable water without a pronounced odor or taste is suitable as mixing water for concrete. Mixing water should contain less than 2000 ppm of dissolved solids. Sodium carbonate in the water causes rapid setting. Sodium and potassium bicarbonates can speed up or slow down setting times. Large concentrations of carbonates and bicarbonates in the water can reduce concrete strength. Chloride ions from salt can corrode embedded steel and sulphates can cause expansion and deterioration of the concrete. Manganese, zinc, tin, copper and lead salts can reduce concrete strength and change setting times. Sea water will corrode reinforced steel and prestressed concrete, and react with the alkalies in some aggregates.  Water containing alkali, organic material, sugar, oil and algae can reduce concrete strength.