Corrosion of hardened cement paste by acetic and nitric acids Part III: Influence of water/cement ratio

The influence of water/cement ratio as a factor controlling the rate of corrosion of hydrated cement paste (HCP) in solutions of acids was investigated. The rate of corrosion decreases with increase in cement content per unit volume of HCP (a decrease in water/cement ratio). There are two main causes accounting for this fact. One is the increased neutralization capacity of HCP's with an increased cement content, the other is the increase in diffusion resistance of layers of corrosive products of HCP. The first of the two effects is supposed to be more important. Finally mathematical relations were found, to express the depth of HCP corrosion as a function of the water/cement ratio, the concentration of the aggressive acid solution, and the duration of attack.