Carbonation of Concrete with Low Carbon Cement LC3 Exposed to Different Environmental Conditions

Abstract

This investigation evaluates the behavior of processes of carbonation in the concrete made with cement low carbon LC3, under different environmental conditions. To determine the carbonated depth, the phenolphthalein technique is used.

Generally the elements made from ternary cements are more sensitive to carbonation than those produced with Portland cements (PC), due to the effect of substitution of clinker with consequent reduction of the alkalinity, so it corresponds to test results conducted with elements manufactured at the Center for Research and Development of Construction (CIDC) in Havana (area of low aggressiveness) (Fig. 2) of 30 MPa characteristic strength, kept in a zone of relative humidity (HR) between 60 and 70%.

On the other hand, when evaluating concrete characteristic design strength of 25 MPa produced in the company of Industrial Production (EPI) Villa Clara, located in Cayo Santa Maria (marine area of high environmental aggressiveness) (Fig. 1), items made with LC3 demonstrate a carbonated depth lower compared to concrete produced with PC, an atypical situation, which may be due to the high levels of porosity in conjunction with the effects of leaching more aggressively in concrete with a higher content of compounds soluble as CO₂.