Influence of Citric Acid-Assisted Impregnation of Recycled Aggregate on the Properties of the Resultant Concrete

Abstract

The paper presents the results of tests on concrete with recycled aggregate impregnated with the use of citric acid. Impregnation was carried out in two stages, with a suspension of calcium hydroxide in water (so-called milk of lime) or diluted water glass used as the second impregnant. The mechanical properties of the concrete were carried out: compressive strength, tensile strength and resistance to cyclic freezing. In addition, concrete durability parameters such as water absorption, sorptivity and torrent air permeability were investigated. The tests showed that this type of impregnation did not improve most of the parameters of concrete with impregnated recycled aggregate. The mechanical parameters after 28 days were significantly lower compared to the reference concrete, although after a longer curing period, these differences decreased significantly for some series. The durability parameters of the concrete with impregnated recycled aggregate also deteriorated compared to the reference concrete with the exception of air permeability. The results of the tests carried out indicate that impregnation using water glass in combination with citric acid gives the best results in most cases and that the order in which the impregnation solutions are applied is very important. Tests also showed that the effectiveness of impregnation is very much influenced by the value of the w/c ratio.