CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, vol.42, pp.64-77, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
Aim of this study intends analyzing the effects of lithium additives on fresh and hardened cement mortars. In this study, mortar specimens were prepared by adding four types of additives (Li2SO4, LiNO3, Li2CO3 and LiBr) to the mixing water of the cement at 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3% proportions by weight. The Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) of these mixtures was explored. The effects of Li2SO4, LiNO3, Li2CO3 and LiBr, which are used to control ASR induced expansion, on expansion and mechanical properties were determined. ASTM C 1260 experiment standard was used to find out the reactivity of aggregate and cement mixtures. In this experimental study, the morphology and the chemical composition of specimens exposed to ASR effect was examined by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS).