Durability and testing – Chemical matrix degradation processes

This chapter, and the two that follow, are structured to provide an overview of the available test methods for assessment of the performance of construction materials under a wide variety of modes of attack. These are divided, broadly, into ‘chemical’ (Chap. 8), ‘transport’ (Chap. 9) and ‘physical’ (Chap. 10) – and it is noted that this classification is to some extent arbitrary, with a significant degree of crossover between the three categories which is difficult to take explicitly into consideration in a format such as this. Some areas are discussed in far more detail than others, either because they are critical points related to certain areas of alkali-activation technology, or sometimes simply because limited information is available regarding some forms of attack on alkali-activated materials (AAMs); biologically-induced corrosion is one such case, where very little information is available in the open literature. These chapters will in general raise questions for future consideration rather than providing detailed answers, due to the limited state of understanding of AAM degradation mechanisms at present, although recommendations will be drawn wherever possible.