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Effect of composition, environmental factors and cement-lime mortar coating on concrete carbonation

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Abstract

The paper describes the physicochemical processes of concrete carbonation and presents a simple mathematical model for the evolution of carbonation in time, applicable under constant relative humidity higher than 50%. The model is based on fundamental principles of chemical reaction engineering, and uses as parameters the ambient concentration of CO2, the molar concentratrations of the carbonatable constituents, Ca(OH)2 and CSH, in the concrete volume, and the effective diffusivity of CO2 in carbonated concrete. The latter is given by an empirical function of the porosity of hardened cement paste and of relative humidity, derived from laboratory diffusion tests. The validity of the model for OPC or pozzolanic cement concretes and mortars is demonstrated by comparison of its predictions with accelerated carbonation test results obtained in an environment of controlled CO2 concentration, humidity and temperature. The mathematical model is extended to cover the case of carbonation of the coating-concrete system, for concrete coated with a cement-lime mortar finish, applied either almost immediately after the end of concrete curing or with a delay of a certain time. Parametric studies are performed to show how the evolution of carbonation depth with time is affected by cement and concrete composition (water/cement or aggregate/cement ratio, percentage OPC or aggregate replacement by a pozzolan), environmental factors (relative humidity, ambient concentration of CO2), the presence and the time of application of a lime-cement mortar coating and its composition (water/cement, aggregate/cement and lime/cement ratios of the mortar, percentage OPC or aggregate replacement by a pozzolan).

Resume

On décrit ici les processus physico-chimiques de carbonatation du béton et on présente un modèle mathématique simple d'évolution de la carbonatation en fonction du temps, applicable à une humidité relative constante de plus de 50%. Ce modèle s'appuie sur les principles fondamentaux du processus de la réaction chimique, et utilise comme paramètres la concentration ambiante en CO2, les concentrations molaires des constituants carbonés, CaOH2 et CSH, dans le volume de béton, de la diffusivité effective de CO2 dans le béton carbonaté, qui est obtenue par une fonction empirique de la porosité de la pâte de ciment durci et de l'humidité relative, dérivée des essais de diffusion en laboratoire.

On démontre la validité du modèle pour les mortiers et bétons de ciment pouzzolanique (OPC) en comparant ses prévisins avec les résultats d'essai obtenus dans une ambiance de concentration de CO2, d'humidité et de température contrôlées. On étend le modèle mathématique au cas de la carbonatation du système revêtement-béton, pour un béton recouvert d'une couche de finissage de mortier de chaux-ciment appliquée presque immédiatement après la fin de la prise du béton ou après un certain temps.

Les études des paramètres montrent comment l'évolution de la profondeur de carbonatation en fonction du temps est affectée par la composition du ciment et du béton (rapport eau/ciment ou granulats/ciment, pourcentage d'OPC ou remplacement du granular par une pouzzolane), les facteurs ambinants (humidité relative, concentration en CO2, la présence et la durée d'application d'un revêtement de mortier de chaux-ciment et sa composition (rapports eau/ciment, granulat/ciment et chaux/ciment du mortier, pourcentage d'OPC ou de remplacement du granulat par une pouzzolane).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, GR-26110, Patras, Greece

    V. G. Papadakis & C. G. Vayenas

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, GR-26110, Patras, Greece

    M. N. Fardis

Authors
  1. V. G. Papadakis
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  2. M. N. Fardis
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  3. C. G. Vayenas
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Papadakis, V.G., Fardis, M.N. & Vayenas, C.G. Effect of composition, environmental factors and cement-lime mortar coating on concrete carbonation. Materials and Structures 25, 293–304 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02472670

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