The primary factors affecting concrete sulfate resistance are the chemistry of Portland
cement and the replacement level of mineral admixtures [1]. In order to investigate the effect of
those on the sulfate attack the testing program in the literature involved the testing of different mortar
mixes using the standardized test, ASTM C1012-95. ASTM C1012-95 has been widely used by
researchers to study the sulfate resistance of cement based materials by exposing 1111 in. mortar
specimens to 50 g/L Na2SO4 or MgSO4 solution [2]. However, there are deficiencies in this test
method including lengthy measuring period, insensitivity of the measurement tool to the progression
of sulfate attack, the effect of curing and the effect of the pH change during the time in the
solution