Aiming at the problem that ordinary cement concrete is subjected to damage in heavy saline soil areas in China, a new type of magnesium oxychloride cement concrete is prepared by using the gelling properties of magnesium oxychloride cement in this study, and the erosion resistance of the synthesized magnesium oxychloride cement concrete in concentrated brine of salt lakes is studied through the full immersion test. The effects of concentrated brine of salt lakes on the macroscopic, microscopic morphology, phase composition and mechanical properties of magnesium oxychloride cement concrete are investigated by means of macro-morphology, erosion depth, SEM, XRD and strength changes. The salt erosion resistance mechanism of magnesium oxychloride cement concrete is revealed. The results demonstrate that under the environment of full immersion in concentrated brine of salt lakes, there is no macroscopic phenomenon of concrete damage due to salt crystallization, and the main phase composition is basically unchanged. The microscopic morphology mostly changes from needle-rod-like to gel-like. Due to the formation of a new 5·1·8 phase on the surface layer and the increase in compactness, its compressive strength has a gradual increase trend. Based on the engineering application of magnesium oxychloride cement concrete, it is further confirmed that magnesium oxychloride cement concrete has excellent salt erosion resistance and good weather resistance, which provides theoretical support for future popularization and application.

Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) foam concrete (MOCFC) is an air-hardening cementing material formed by mixing magnesium chloride solution (MgCl₂) and light-burned magnesia (i.e., active MgO). In application, adding caustic dolomite powder into light-burned magnesite powder can reduce the MOCFC production cost. The brine content of MOC changes with the incorporation of caustic dolomite powder. This study investigated the relationship between the mass percent concentration and the Baumé degree of a magnesium chloride solution after bischofite (MgCl₂·6H₂O) from a salt lake was dissolved in water. The proportional relationship between the amount of water in brine and bischofite, and the functional formula for the water-to-cement ratio (W/C) of MOC mixed with caustic dolomite powder were deduced. The functional relationship was verified as feasible for preparing MOC through the experiment.