The effect of combined carbonation and steam curing on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Portland cement concrete

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of the combined carbonation and steam curing on the physicochemical properties and CO2 uptake of the Portland cement concrete. Four different curing regimes were adopted during the initial 10 h of curing to evaluate the potential of carbonation curing as an alternative to conventional steam curing in the precast concrete industry from environmental and practical viewpoints. Four combinations of carbonation and steam curing conditions were applied as curing regimes to the samples at an early age. The test results indicated that the samples treated with the combined carbonation and steam curing exhibited higher early strength development compared to the other samples, signifying that carbonation curing can reduce the production time of precast concrete. Furthermore, the CO2 uptake capacity of the samples was calculated and found to be as high as 18% with respect to the mass of the paste samples. Hence, the simultaneous utilization of steam and CO2 for the fabrication of precast concrete members has the potential to make precast concrete greener and more costeffective.