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A Study on Effect of Carbonation on the Properties of Concrete

Conference Paper · March 2013

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A Study on Effect of Carbonation on the Properties of Concrete
By D. Bhunia1, S.B. Singh2 and A. Imam3
1
Assistant Professor, 2Associate Professor and 3Junior Research Fellow
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
ABSTRACT
Within the framework of the research
project by the government of different
countries it has been observed that the
buildings which were built between 1961
and 1992, at present they are showing the
critical signs of serious deterioration. The
impact of aggressive environment on the
occurrence of failure is more than evident.
Considering the issues related to the
concrete durability, in this study an initiative
has been taken in order to ascertain the
effects of carbonation on the concrete
properties. This paper describes an
experimental investigation carried out to
study the effects of carbonation on the
mechanical properties of plain concrete.
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with a
constant water/cement ratio of 0.5 was used
in this study. Compressive strength and
depth of carbonation using phenolphthalein
solution were measured in order to observe
the effect of carbonation.
Keywords: Carbonation, durability
INTRODUCTION
Carbonation is one of the most serious
problems of the reinforced concrete
buildings and is widely recognized as a
significant factor in the corrosion of
reinforcement which in turn causes structure
deterioration. Carbonation is the reaction of
the hydration products dissolved in the pore
water with the carbon dioxide in the air
which reduces the pH of concrete pore
solution from 12.6 to less than 9 and steel
passive oxide film may be destroyed and
accelerating uniform corrosion [1].
Carbonation-induced corrosion can increase
crack development and decrease concrete
durability [2].
Carbonation reduces pH value and destroys
the passive film around the steel, but it
seems to densify concrete surface and
reduce chloride ion permeability, reduce
surface porosity and hence sorptivity in
concrete [3-5]. Carbonation could have both
positive and negative effects on concrete
durability. Glass et al. [6] pointed out that
the presence of even a small amount of
chloride in carbonated concrete enhances the
corrosion rate resulted from carbonation of
concrete.
The basic factor influencing carbonation is
the diffusivity of the hardened cement paste.
Carbonation rate is controlled by the ingress
of CO2 into concrete pore system by
diffusion with a concentration gradient of
CO2 acting as the driving force. Factors
affecting diffusion rate include the type and
amount of cement, porosity of the material,
time of curing, type and quantity of
pozzolanic additions [7-8]. Moreover,
several mechanical properties of concrete
such as compressive strength, surface
hardness and resistance to aggressive agents
may change due to carbonation [3].
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
1. Materials
Ordinary Portland cement with a
specific gravity of 3.15 was used in all
mixtures. The coarse aggregate with a
specific gravity of 2.71 in a size range of
12.5 to 20 mm was used. The fine aggregate
used in a range of 0.075 to 4.75 mm with a
bulk density of 1.52. Admixture super
plasticizer (SP) was also used in order to
obtain suitable flow ability without
segregation and to attain a slump of 120±20
mm.
2. Mixing and Preparation of Specimens
OPC with water cement ratio
constant as 0.5 with a minimum cement
content of 300 kg/m3 was used. Water/binder
Table 1: Mix Proportions of Concrete (Kg/m3).
Cementitious
W/C
Materials
0.5 OPC
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
1. Compressive Strength
After 7 and 28 days of curing, samples were
tested for compressive strength. Average of
the three was taken as mean compressive
strength. The mean compressive strength for
7 and 28 days for ordinary Portland cement
with a w/c ratio of 0.5 were recorded as
33.96 and 35.96 MPa respectively.
2. Determination of carbonation depth
At the age of 28 days, a paraffin wax
coating was applied to all surfaces, except
on the surface exposed to CO2. The concrete
cubes were stored permanently in the
carbonation chamber.
At regular time intervals (2, 4 and 6 months)
the carbonation depth was examined
ratio was defined as the weights of water
and super plasticizer divided by the weights
of cement and slag. Basically compression
testing for 7 and 28 days and carbonation
testing in 2, 4 and 6 months was focused in
this study. Based on which a total of 18
cubes were casted in order to have a better
outcomes. Cubes were casted keeping in
view that each tests contain three cubes for
testing so that an average value can be
considered. These concrete cubes were
stored in a natural carbonation chamber.
Details of the mix proportions are given in
Table 1.
Water Cement FA CA
180 360 651 1208
experimentally. Each time, 3 cubes were
sprayed with phenolphthalein solution in
order to determine the carbonated zone. The
pH indicator changes from colorless to
purple as the pH rises from 8.3 to 10. The
test indicated the depth which the calcium
hydroxide has been depleted. The depth of
carbonation for 2, 4 and 6 months are shown
in the table 2.
i) Waxing of cured cubes
Paraffin wax was used to seal surfaces. It
was melted in a temperature-controlled
crucible and applied to the concrete surface
with a paint brush in three equal layers,
leaving the wax to set on the concrete
between each application.
After 28 days, the top and bottom
longitudinal faces and the two end faces
were sealed using paraffin wax or a similar
material that will prevent ingress of carbon
 dioxide and allow carbonation on two cast
longitudinal surfaces. Once the specimens
were sealed, the cubes were placed in the
carbonation storage chamber. The cubes
Table 2: Depth of Carbonation (mm) for different duration of time.
w/c Cementitious No of
ratio materials Cubes
12
OPC
0.5 3 80
3 150
CONCLUSION
The results reported in this study are based
on natural carbonation of concrete placed in
Stevenson Chamber. It is shown that the
depth of carbonation are not as expected
keeping in view the time of exposure of
concrete specimens to the natural
environment and hence further study is
required to validate the result. The further
study on carbonation is underway at BITS
PIlani sponsored by DST New Delhi.
REFERENCES
[1] Papadakis V.G., Fardis M.N. and Vayenas
C.G. (1992), “Effect of Composition,
Environmental Factors and Cementlime Motor
Coating on Concrete Carbonation,” Materials
and Structures, Vol. 25, No. 149, pp. 293-304.
[2] Roy S.K., Poh K.B. and Northwood D.O.
(1999), “Durability of Concrete-Accelerated
Carbonation and Weathering Studies,” Cement
and Concrete Research, Vol. 34, pp. 597-606.
[3] Verbeck G.J.(1958), “Carbonation of
Hydrated Portland Cement,” ASTM. Sp. Tech.
Publ., No. 205, pp. 17-36.
[4] Leber I. and Blakey F.A. (1956), “Some
Effects of Carbon Dioxide on Motars and
Concrete, J. Amer. Concr. Inst., Vol. 53, pp.
295-308.
[5] Dias W.P.S. (2000), “Reduction of Concrete
Sorptivity with Age through Carbonation,”
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were positioned in a way that permits air to
circulate freely around the two faces that
were to be carbonated.
Admixture Depth of Carbonation (mm)
added (gm) 2 months 4 months 6 months
540 0 6.5 1.2
4.4 2.7 0.9
3.0 4.8 1.4
Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 30, pp.
1255-1261.
[6] Glass G.K., Page C.L. and Short N.R.
(1991), “Factors Affecting the Corrosion Rate of
Steel in Carbonated Motars,” Corrosion Science,
Vol. 32, No. 12, pp. 1283-1294.
[7] Roper H. and Baweja D. (1991),
“Carbonation-Chloride Interactions and their
Influence on Corrosion Rates of Steel in
Concrete,” in: Malbotra V.M. (Ed.), Durability
of Concrete, ACI SP-126, pp. 295-315.
[8] V’eleva L. et al. (1998), “The Corrosion
Performance of Steel and Reinforced Concrete
in a Tropical Humid Climate. A Review,”
Corros Rev. Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 235-284.
[9] C.T. Tam, H.B. Lim and K. Sisomphon,
(2007), Carbonation of concrete in the
tropical environment of Singapore, Dept. of
Civil Engineering, National University of
Singapore, Singapore.
[10] Chandra Subhash (2009), M.E.
Structural, Report on Effect of carbonation
on physical properties of concrete under
different environmental conditions.