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Introduction
The carbonation of the concrete
Project of Durability
5 GCU INSA Rennes
Professor: PRINCE AGBODJAN William
Students:

It was a long thought that the concrete was a

indestructible material.

In fact, concretes and cements mortars are called
metastable compounds.

That means they are not chemical stables, but their
speed of transformation is so slowly that it seems they
have stability.

LHAMIDI Khaliid
PRADO RODRIGUES Ana Beatriz
VIEIRA BELAFONTE BARROS Victor

Introduction

Cement Hydration

Only after between twenty to thirty years ago that our

preoccupation is oriented to the problems involving the
durability.

The Portland cement has 4 essential components (90% of

CP):

The demolition and replacement of concrete structures

have shown quite clearly that, because of corrosion, the
life of a structure was significantly shorter than originally
planned.

Bi and Tricalcium silicates

2CaO . SiO2 (C2S)

3CaO . SiO2 (C3S)

Tricalcium aluminate

3CaO . Al2O3 (C3A)

Tetracalcium aluminoferrite

4CaO . Al2O3 . Fe2O3 (C4A)

Cement Hydration

Carbonation

Silicates which chiefly provide the mechanical strength of

hydrated cement, account for about 75% in the
composition of CP.

Carbonation of concrete is traditionally defined as the

chemical reaction between atmosphere carbon dioxide
and the products of cement hydration (particularly
Ca(OH)2

Silicates hydration reactions:

2(3CaO . SiO2) + 6H2O  3CaO . 2SiO2 . 3H2O + 3Ca(OH)2

2(2CaO . SiO2) + 4H2O  3CaO . 2SiO2 . 3H2O + Ca(OH)2

The carbonation is a major natural phenomenon, which

aims to return the calcium to its more stable form.

To 1m3 dosed concrete that has 300kg/m3 cement, with

a degree of hydration 60%, are released over 50kg of
Ca(OH)2.

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The carbonation of the concrete

The carbonation of the concrete

Concrete carbonation is a phenomenon inseparable

from the construction material and will be present
throughout his life.

This reaction is present in the epidermis of the concrete.
1. CO2 + H2O  H2CO3
1. H2CO3 + Ca(OH)2  CaCO3 + 2H2O
2. H2CO3 + 3CaO . 2SiO2 . 3H2O  CaCO3 + H2O + amorphous silica
3. H2CO3 + 2NaOH  Na2CO3 + 2H2O
4. H2CO3 + 2KOH  K2CO3 + 2H2O

Speed of carbonation

Speed of carbonation

The speed of carbonation will depend on many factors

such as:

compactness,

cement content,

type of cement,

water quantity on the concrete,

degree of hydration of the cement,

concentration of carbon dioxide in the air,

relative humidity.

Speed of carbonation

Speed of carbonation

The speed of carbonation will depend on many factors

such as:

compactness,

cement content,

type of cement,

water quantity on the concrete,

degree of hydration of the cement,

concentration of carbon dioxide in the air,

relative humidity.

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Identification of carbonation

Identification of carbonation

Phenolphthalein (pH indicator): when the reactions of

carbonation takes place, the pH value starts falling. This
tests is practical, but doesnt identifies the causes.

The normal pH-value of concrete is above 13 and the
pH-value of fully carbonated concrete is below 9.

Once the carbonation process reaches reinforcement
and the pH-value drops beneath 13 the passive film
on the re-boss will detonates and the corrosion will
begins.

Phenolphthalein indicator solution applied to a fresh fracture

through a concrete slab

Identification of carbonation

Consequences of carbonation

X-Ray Diffractometric Analysis: when the reactions of

carbonation takes place, the portlandite disappears and
the CaCo3 starts a crystallization process.

The calcium carbonate (CaCO3), formed during

carbonation, is very slightly soluble in water and will
decrease the pore water of pH to a value of about 8.

Thermal
Analysis:
due
to
the
dehydration
(decomposition) of the Ca(OH)2 in an oven with an inert
reference element its possible to notice a lose weight
caused by the carbonation process.

Concrete carbonation is a reaction that is virtually

without consequences for the concrete itself

Otherwise against steel, which is protected in the noncarbonated concrete, it carries the corrosion when the
concrete carbonates.

Advantages: - check if there is the Portlandite

- determine the amount of Portlandite

Consequences of carbonation

The benefits of carbonation for

unreinforced concrete

Carbonation of cementitious matrices based on CEM I
(cement type) is done with a weight gain corresponding
to CO2 fixed in hydrates.

Clogging of the microstructure that makes the concrete
less permeable to aggressive agents.

Carbonation enhances the mechanical strength of the
concrete and make the material more stable chemically
due to the swelling reactions.

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Conclusion

Thank you!

Carbonation is one of the main causes of concrete

degradation. However, it also increases both the
compressive and tensile strength of concrete.

Therefore, not all the effects of carbonation are harmful

to the concrete. The biggest problem of carbonation is
the steal corrosion that follows.