Electrochemical responses and chloride ingress in reinforced Belite-Ye’elimite-Ferrite (BYF) cement matrix exposed to exogenous salt sources

Abstract Reinforced Belite-Ye’elimite-Ferrite (BYF) mortars cured for different times and exposed for 90 and 182 days to a chloride-rich solution (full immersion and dry/wet cycles) were compared to Portland equivalents in terms of porosity, corrosion, chloride ingress and sorptivity. The effect of fly ash addition was also considered. BYF and OPC-embedded rebars remained passivated through 182-day testing. The apparent chloride diffusion coefficients were about 10-12 m² s-1, except for 28-day-cured BYF mortars containing fly ash, which exhibited higher values. The results contribute to a better assessment of durability issues concerning BYF matrices, indicating they can be a reliable alternative to OPC.