Durability performance of cement mixtures incorporating porous laterite-based aggregates under sulfate and chloride exposure

The study aimed to develop and evaluate the performance of cement mixed with porous aggregates for use in areas with high salt concentrations. The porous aggregates were produced from calcined laterite 70 wt% with sawdust 30 wt% and sieved into three sizes: > 2.31 mm, > 1 mm, and < 1 mm. The 20 wt% laterite aggregate was mixed with 80 wt% cement to compare with 100% cement. All samples were immersed in MgSO4 and NaCl solutions and cured at ambient temperature for 30 days to assess compressive strength, mass change, expansion, chemical analysis, and microstructure. Although 100% cement had the highest compressive strength, it significantly decreased after 30 days in both solutions. In contrast, cement with aggregates increased strength in MgSO4, with the three-size aggregate mixture achieving the highest strength (39.2 MPa) with minimal mass change and expansion. Under NaCl exposure, all mixes showed reduced strength. The three mixed sizes aggregate still exhibited the highest strength (31.9 MPa), low mass change, and expansion. This shows that the cement mixtures with 20 wt% aggregates have a distinct ability to withstand sulphate and chloride solutions, and the three-size aggregate formulation achieved strength exceeding the ASTM C1157 and ASTM C150 standards.