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Carbonation of Concrete Structures
Carbonation of Concrete Structures
shreeram Rockwool
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We shall see another aspect of carbonation, as CO2 by itself is not reactive. In the C onstruction Management Structure Design
presence of moisture, CO2 changes into dilute carbonic acid, which attacks the concrete
Structural Analysis Water Resources
and also reduces alkalinity of concrete (i.e. pH value reduces).
Earthquake Engineering
Air contains CO2. The concentration of CO2 in rural air may be about 0.03 percent by
volume. In large cities the content may go up to 0.3 percent or exceptionally it may go up
to even 1.0 per cent. In the tunnel, if not well ventilated the intensity may be much higher.
The pH value of pore water in the hardened concrete is generally between 12.5 to 13.5
depending upon the alkali content of cement. The high alkalinity forms a thin passivating
layer around steel reinforcement and protect it from action of oxygen and water. As long as
steel is placed in a highly alkaline condition, it is not going to corrode. Such condition is
known as passivation.
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5/14/13 CARBONATION OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES
around 9.0. When all the Ca (OH)2 has become carbonated, the pH value will reduce up to
about 8.3. In such a low pH value, the protective layer gets destroyed and the steel is
exposed to corrosion.
The carbonation of concrete is one of the main reasons for corrosion of reinforcement. Of
course oxygen and moisture are the other components required for corrosion of embedded
steel.
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