Mechanisms of Mechanical Property Degradation of Carbonation Curing Cement-Based Materials under Natural Weathering

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.0931

Abstract

Abstract:

Carbonation curing can accelerate the early strength development of cement-based materials while sequestering carbon dioxide. However， the degradation mechanisms affecting their mechanical properties during service life remain unclear. This study exposed cement paste specimens to natural environmental conditions to investigate the effect of carbonation curing compared to conventional water curing under different weathering durations （30， 60， and 90 d）. The composition， pore structure， and both macroscopic and microscale mechanical properties of the weathered specimens were systematically analyzed. The results indicate that， in the later stage （90 d） of weathering， specimens carbonation curing for 0.5 h and 1 d show 15.1% and 34.7% higher compressive strength， and 1.4% and 3.6% higher average microhardness， respectively， than the conventional water curing specimens. This improvement is attributed to the formation of a dense carbonate layer in sample during carbonation curing. Moreover， with extended carbonation duration， the nanoindentation modulus at the specimen surface increases significantly. These findings demonstrate that carbonation curing significantly enhances the weathering resistance of cement-based materials， providing an important basis for its application in this field and a useful reference for the deployment of early-age carbonation curing products in coastal regions.

Key words: cement-based material, carbonation curing, weathering, mechanical property, nanoindentation modulus

CLC Number:

TU528

YANG Xueying, WANG Kaiyuan, WANG Yaocheng, ZHAN Baojian, XING Feng. Mechanisms of Mechanical Property Degradation of Carbonation Curing Cement-Based Materials under Natural Weathering[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(4): 1132-1141.

Figures/Tables 14

Table 1 Main chemical composition of cement

Composition	CaO	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	Fe₂O₃	SO₃	MgO	K₂O	TiO₂	Na₂O	LOI
Mass fraction/%	61.15	23.53	4.96	3.68	2.79	2.51	0.71	0.24	0.11	0.31

Fig.1 Specimen shape

Table 2 Parameter settings for magnetic resonance imaging analyzer

Sequence name	Operating frequency/MHz	Sampling frequency/kHz	Waiting time/ms	Number of echoes/echo time/ms	Radio ferquency delay/ms	Accumulation times
FID/CPMG	12	125， 200	1 500	2 000/0.1	0.08	16

Fig.2 Method for preparing test samples

Fig.3 Schematic diagram of nanoindentation testing area

Fig.4 TG-DTG curves of cement pastes experienced different curing regimes

Fig.5 XRD patterns of weathered cement samples

Fig.6 Pore size distribution of weathered samples at 0， 60 and 90 d

Table 3 Pore size proportion of samples in weathering tests

Time/d	REF		C0.5		C24
Time/d	Micro poreproportion/%	Macro poreproportion/%	Micro poreproportion/%	Macro poreproportion/%	Micro poreproportion/%	Macro poreproportion/%
0	9.22	0.42	12.19	9.26	5.10	4.05
60	6.53	2.44	2.80	3.29	2.17	1.84
90	10.18	4.57	4.80	3.85	3.49	1.73

Fig.7 Variation of porosity with time during weathering process

Fig.8 Compressive strength of cement paste under different curing conditions with weathering time

Fig.9 Temporal and spatial distribution of microhardness in samples under weathering

Fig.10 Frequency distribution and Gaussian fitting results of nanoindentation modulus on surface of samples after 90 d of weathering

Table 4 Fitting results of nanoindentation test of weathered cement paste

Group	REF		C0.5		C24		Component
Group	M/GPa	V/%	M/GPa	V/%	M/GPa	V/%	Component
Ⅰ	8.2	45.0	7.2	43.4	8.3	35.5	Mesopore
Ⅱ	19.5	14.3	18.9	25.0	18.5	15.4	Low density C-S-H gel
Ⅲ	25.2	21.9	25.0	14.3	26.8	25.3	High density C-S-H gel
Ⅳ	34.3	18.8	31.7	17.3	35.7	23.8	C-S-H gel and carbonate

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