A second life of sulfur: sulfur concrete and its chemical and thermal resistance

Mixture design for improving the corrosion-resistance of construction materials

Conventional cement concrete is susceptible to chemical attack and corrosion due to the presence of moisture and aggressive ions such as chlorides and sulphates, which can lead to cracking, spalling, and structural degradation over long-term service. In this study, sulfur was employed as an alternative binder to eliminate hydration-related corrosion risks, since it has been proven to be hydrophobic, while hematite was used as a functional aggregate substitute to further enhance its durability. The prepared sulfur-based specimens were immersed in simulated corrosive environments for 90 days to evaluate their long-term chemical stability. Remarkably, the specimens retained nearly their original mechanical strength, showing no visible surface deterioration. These findings confirm that sulfur-based concrete presents exceptional resistance to corrosive environments, offering a promising and sustainable alternative to conventional cementitious materials, especially for applications in harsh or chemically aggressive conditions such as coastal, industrial, or extraterrestrial environments.

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Qinjian Wang and Didier Snoeck, BATir Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium

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