Carbonation Properties of Cementitious Materials
Summary
Carbonation in cementitious materials refers to the chemical reaction between carbon dioxide and the hydrated phases within cement, notably calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate. This process leads to the gradual formation of calcium carbonate polymorphs such as calcite and vaterite, which fill pore spaces and can densify the microstructure. While natural carbonation contributes to the long-term strength gain and sealing of concrete, it also lowers pH, potentially undermining steel reinforcement passivation and durability. The rate and extent of carbonation are governed by factors including porosity, moisture content, CO₂ concentration and the composition of the cement matrix. Innovations such as carbonation curing harness this reaction under controlled conditions to accelerate strength development and sequester CO₂. Recent advances have explored tailored clinker polymorphs, recycled mineral admixtures and engineered curing protocols to optimise both performance and environmental impact. The interplay between microstructural evolution, gas diffusion and phase transformations underpins efforts to mitigate the carbon footprint of concrete while enhancing its service life.
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Carbonation Properties of Cementitious Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in carbonation properties of cementitious materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Carbonation: Reaction of CO₂ with cement hydration products to form carbonate minerals, affecting strength and durability.
Calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H): The principal binding phase in hydrated cement responsible for mechanical strength.
Portlandite (calcium hydroxide): A hydration by-product of cement clinker that readily reacts with CO₂ during carbonation.
Dicalcium silicate (C₂S): A clinker phase existing in α, β and γ polymorphs, varying in reactivity and carbonation behaviour.
Carbonation curing: A process in which fresh cementitious materials are exposed to elevated CO₂ levels to accelerate carbonate formation and early strength development.
References
- Carbonation of Portland Cement Studied by Diffuse Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials (2013).
- Revealing the Microstructure Evolution and Carbonation Hardening Mechanism of β-C2S Pastes by Backscattered Electron Images. Materials (2019).
- Improvement in Carbonation Resistance of Portland Cement Mortar Incorporating γ‐Dicalcium Silicate. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering (2019).
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