Lin, Leqing;
Xie, Mingjun;
Li, Xu;
Zheng, Kunpei;
Wang, Jingbo;
Yu, Kaifeng;
Wang, Yaocheng;
... Bai, Yun; + view all
(2025)
Carbonation of cement-based materials under different conditions: From multi-characterizations to mechanism exploration.
Construction and Building Materials
, 491
, Article 142764. 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142764.
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Carbonation of Cement-based Materials Under Different Conditions.pdf - Accepted Version Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 23 July 2026. Download (3MB) |
Abstract
Carbonation in cement-based materials plays a dual role in modern construction, serving as a potential pathway for CO<inf>2</inf> sequestration during early-age curing and poses durability challenges in long-term service applications. This study systematically investigates the combined effects of water-to-cement (w/c) ratio (0.35–0.50), CO<inf>2</inf> concentration (20–100 %), and pressure (0–200 kPa) on carbonation kinetics, pore structure development, and mechanical performance. By integrating pH gradient analysis, microhardness profiling, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and phase composition characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques, key findings were identified as follows. A CO<inf>2</inf> concentration of 20 % optimizes progressive carbonation depth and surface densification, whereas concentrations exceeding 50 % induce pore clogging and humidity saturation, paradoxically stabilizing carbonation depth despite higher CO<inf>2</inf> availability. Pressures up to 100 kPa accelerate surface CO<inf>2</inf> diffusion and reaction, while 200 kPa elevates internal humidity (>80 %), hindering mid-depth transport and promoting incomplete carbonation. The study establishes predictive correlations between pH, microhardness, and porosity, demonstrating that carbonation-induced pore occlusion governs both mechanical enhancement and diffusion limitations.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Carbonation of cement-based materials under different conditions: From multi-characterizations to mechanism exploration |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142764 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.142764 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Carbonation, CO2 concentration, Characterisation, Mechanical properties, Microstructure characteristics |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Civil, Environ and Geomatic Eng |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10214768 |
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