Abstrait

Effect of simulated acidic rain concentrations on selected materials used in construction

P.D.Mahadam, A.V.Mane

With the rise of industrialization, increasing acidity in natural water and soil has become a big problem and serious threat to all the components of natural environment. This acidity is associated with the emission, transport, and subsequent depositions of oxides of sulfur, nitrogen and other acid oxidation products. In recent years, several national and international reports are in relation with deterioration of buildings. The present paper was aimed to study the effects of simulated acid rain on the materials used in building construction in order to find actual effect of acid rain concentrations on the buildings. The ‘Periodic soaking experiments’ were carried out with four different pH concentrations of namely pH 3, pH 4, pH 5 and pH 6 for eight days. The building construction materials used in the present study were Marble, Granite, Limestone, Cement-concrete blocks, Bricks, and Iron rods. Physical changes in iron rods were recorded and photographed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe changeswhen immersed in the simulated acid rain samples.All thematerials showed considerable weight loss with physical changes including rusting and scaling in iron rods. From the present study we conclude that acid rain concentrations have damaging effect onMarble, Cement/concrete blocks, and Brick aswell.