.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
Return
Concrete carbonation, global carbon uptake, Green House Gas implications versus steel reinforcement corrosion
.png){kind=icon}
OA
AI
DOI：10.1080/15732479.2026.2697295.png)
.png){kind=icon}
Original request for help.png){kind=icon}
Share.png){kind=icon}
Save
Abstract
En 中文
Concrete ‘carbonation’, the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide into concrete, is beneficial for reduction of Green House gases, increasing concrete strength and reducing its permeability but conventionally assumed to cause corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete structures. Herein that assumption is re-examined using classic and more recent literature observations as well as a detailed investigation of 60-year-old exposed reinforced concrete columns. The columns boldly exposed to the weather showed carbonation only 10–15 mm into the concrete while the internal, protected, dry columns showed much deeper carbonation. This difference reflects the effect of moisture on gaseous diffusion. All columns showed similar pH profiles, offset by the depth of carbonation, with pH from 7–8 at the outer column surfaces to around 12 well inside the concrete. These profiles result from the outward diffusion of concrete alkalis, principally calcium hydroxide. Reinforcement corrosion was not observed. The reasons for this and similar cases in the literature are discussed and a new criterion proposed. It is based, not on depth of carbonation but on remnant calcium hydroxide and by implication concrete permeability, noting that corrosion, both initiation and progression, depends critically on the presence of water and oxygen, not just pH.
Keywords:
Carbonation
neutralisation
corrosion
reinforcement
long-term
greenhouse house gasses
durability
Journal
IF:
2.6
Papers:
451
Citations:
5.3K
Organization
Cited Papers