Strength and Porosity of Portland Cement Paste Subjected to Chloride Penetration

Penetration of chloride ions into hardened cement paste results in a slight loss in compressive strength. Modification of the pore structure of the paste is evident. The modification is characterized by significant increases in the volume of all pores whose diameter is smaller than 50 nm. Further, the increase is not necessarily continuous. Discontinuity of the pores structure is believed to be masked by the damage to thin pore walls occurring in the process of mercury intrusion.