Durability-related properties of mortar and concrete containing copper tailings as a cement replacement material

This paper reports the results of research investigating the impact of copper tailings on some durability properties of cement pastes, mortars and concretes. Four mixtures incorporating copper tailings at 0% to 15% cement substitution levels by mass were used. Minor reductions in sulfate resistance of mortars and improved performance against autoclave expansion of pastes were observed in mixtures containing copper tailings. Despite increased water absorption and total permeable voids in concrete samples containing copper tailings, sample compressive and tensile strengths comparable to those of the control specimens were obtained. Resistance to acid attack and chloride penetration improved as the copper tailings content of mixtures increased. Moreover, chloride penetration depths obtained from immersion tests suggest that because the rapid chloride permeability test is an indicator of sample conductivity rather than chloride permeability, it may not be appropriate for evaluating mixtures with high-conductivity copper tailings. The high conductivity of concretes containing copper tailings could potentially be utilised in the de-icing of roadways and electromagnetic shielding of electrical and electronic devices.