Salt does not damage concrete but the effects of salt can.
Effects of salt on new concrete.
Salt does not chemically react with hardened concrete.
The acidic reaction attacks the concrete paste and aggregate weakening the structure and strength of the concrete.
As we know too much.
Between sodium chloride nacl calcium chloride cacl 2 and magnesium chloride mgcl 2 the last two are much more effective against ice than nacl but at the same time significantly more aggressive against concrete.
On one end they keep bridge and road traffic surfaces clean from ice during the winter while on the other they generally create serious deterioration of steel reinforced concrete.
Not all the de icing salts perform the same.
Salt significantly lowers the ph in the concrete.
Bumps and potholes don t just appear due to regular wear and tear salt damages concrete over time by causing corrosion to occur under the surface leading to discolored cracked and crumbling concrete.
Since this is a process that happens after ice melts adding an ice melter which is heavy in chemicals such as sodium chloride magnesium chloride calcium chloride or other elements can cause corrosion within the layers of your concrete.
Salt is a mild acid and lowers the ph in the concrete.
Concrete is a bottle material and presses very low tensile strength limiting ductility and little resistance to.
The following factors of salt are known to harm concrete.
This process attacks the concrete paste increases the pore size and.
Salt can also increase the freeze thaw cycles if the temperature fluctuates between 15 f and 25 f.
It also increases the pore size allowing additional water and chemicals into the concrete which can exacerbate freeze thaw cycle damage.
Internal micro cracks as inherent present.
The answer is yes salt does indirectly damage your concrete driveways patios and sidewalks.
That sounds weird so we ll explain.