Effect of carbonation on concrete structure - A review

Abstract

Cement production is a key source of human-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and one of the primary drivers of worldwide CO2 output. As the environmental influences of cement manufacturing continue to grow, reducing its carbon footprint has become progressively crucial. Reinforced cement concrete (RCC) has long been a popular construction material because of its excellent compressive and tensile strength. These basis properties of the structure are extremely affected due to corrosion and degradation of steel. Basic reason behind the corrosion and degradation of steel is carbon percentage present in the steel. Over time, through carbonation, the highly alkaline environment of Portland cement concrete is neutralized. Which can break down the protective layer on steel reinforcement bars. Excessive early-age carbonation curing has been observed to weaken the strength characteristics of cement-based composites, affecting their performance in both the short and long term. This process eventually causes corrosion of the reinforcement, leading to early structural deterioration. This review offers a comprehensive, cutting-edge overview of current carbonation strategies, emphasizing the key industrial challenges and crucial research gaps that still require in-depth exploration.