Influence of Low-Concentration CO2 Environment at 40 ℃ on Early Carbonation and Hydration Reaction Process of Cement Mortar

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.1148

Abstract

Abstract:

In response to the low-carbon development strategy for building materials， this study explores the optimization path for early-age performance of cement-based materials under low-concentration CO₂conditions. Cement mortars were subjected to CO₂ curing at 3% （volume fraction） concentration and 40 ℃ for 2， 6， and 12 h to investigate the effects of the carbonation-hydration synergy on mechanical properties， microstructure evolution. The results show that the comprehensive performance of cement-based materials is optimal after 6 h of carbonation， with a 28 d compressive strength of 58.6 MPa—approximately 15.1% higher than that of the purely hydrated sample. At this stage， the amount and crystallinity of CaCO₃ reach their maximum， and the proportion of calcite increases significantly. Mercury intrusion porosimetry results reveal that 6 h carbonation effectively refines the pore structure of the specimen surface layer， reducing porosity to 21.8% and enhancing compactness and stability of the material. However， extending the carbonation time causes deterioration of the surface pore structure， leading to reduce strength due to over-carbonation.

Key words: cement-based material, low-concentration CO₂, early-age carbonation, temperature regulation, microstructural evolution

CLC Number:

TU528.45

HU Qinghao, LI Shaochun, CHEN Xu, ZHANG Shuchang. Influence of Low-Concentration CO₂ Environment at 40 ℃ on Early Carbonation and Hydration Reaction Process of Cement Mortar[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(6): 1892-1902.

Figures/Tables 17

Table 1 Chemical composition of cement

Chemical composition	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	Fe₂O₃	CaO	MgO	SO₃	Na₂O eq	f-CaO	Loss
Mass fraction/%	20.5	4.9	3.0	63.2	3.5	2.5	0.6	0.7	1.6

Table 2 Physical properties of cement

Physical

property

Fineness0.08/%

Specific surface area/（m²·kg^-1）

Density/

（g·cm^-3）

Standard consistency/%

Stability boiling method

Setting time/min

Compressive strength/MPa

Table 3 Mix ratio of cement mortar and cement paste

Material	Water-cement ratio	Mix ratio/（kg·m^-3）
Material	Water-cement ratio	Cement	Standard sand	Water
Cement mortar	0.4	450	1 350	180
Cement paste	0.4	450	—	180

Table 4 Symbols and their meanings appearing in this article

Symbol	Meaning
S2	Hydration at 40 ℃ for 2 h
S2-28	After hydration at 40 ℃ for 2 h， it is then cured under standard curing conditions for 28 d
T2	3% CO₂， carbonation at 40 ℃ for 2 h
T2-28	After carbonation for 2 h in an environment with 3% CO₂ and 40 ℃， it is then cured under standard curing conditions until 28 d

Fig.1 Water loss rate curve of cement mortar in a 40 ℃ constant temperature environment

Fig.2 Distribution of CaCO3 content on surface of cement mortar at 40 ℃

Fig.3 TG-DTG curves of surface 2 mm samples from specimens subjected to different carbonation time

Fig.4 Mass loss of 2 mm C-S-H gel on sample surface under different carbonation time

Fig.5 Mass loss of 2 mm CH on sample surface under different carbonation time

Fig.6 Mass loss of CaCO3 of 2 mm sample on surface of sample under different carbonation time

Fig.7 XRD patterns of 2 mm samples on surface at different carbonation time

Fig.8 XRD quantitative results of each experimental group at 40 ℃

Table 5 XRD quantitatively determined content of C3S， C2S， CH and CaCO3 phases

Sample	Relative content （per 100 g dry sample）/g
Sample	C₃S	C₂S	CH	CaCO₃	Amorphous
S2	26.4	13.7	8.5	6.9	27.2
S6	26.4	12.9	8.8	7.2	28.1
S12	22.0	14.8	9.6	9.0	25.7
T2	14.6	10.4	4.7	17.9	46.7
T6	14.4	9.4	5.0	25.0	44.1
T12	13.0	6.4	4.1	28.6	40.3
T2-28	8.5	9.8	6.2	28.8	46.1
T6-28	7.7	8.8	4.6	45.0	38.9
T12-28	7.5	6.6	4.9	38.2	46.9

Fig.9 Cumulative pore volume changes of cement paste specimens at different carbonation time

Fig.10 Variation of pore volume distribution in cement paste at different carbonation time

Fig.11 Porosity and average pore size of cement mortar at different carbonation time

Fig.12 Compressive strength of cement mortar under different carbonation time

References 29

[1]	LIU Z Y， VAN DEN HEEDE P， ZHANG C， et al. Carbonation of blast furnace slag concrete at different CO₂ concentrations： carbonation rate， phase assemblage， microstructure and thermodynamic modelling［J］. Cement and Concrete Research， 2023， 169： 107161. DOI URL
[2]	LI X M， LING T C. Instant CO₂ curing for dry-mix pressed cement pastes： consideration of CO₂ concentrations coupled with further water curing［J］. Journal of CO₂ Utilization， 2020， 38： 348-354.
[3]	SONG B X， SHI C J， HU X， et al. Effect of early CO₂ curing on the chloride transport and binding behaviors of fly ash-blended Portland cement［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2021， 288： 123113. DOI URL
[4]	何娟，杨长辉. 碳化对碱-矿渣水泥浆体微观结构的影响［J］. 建筑材料学报， 2012， 15（1）： 126-130.
	HE J， YANG C H. Influence of carbonation on microstructure of alkali-activated slag cement pastes［J］. Journal of Building Materials， 2012， 15（1）： 126-130 （in Chinese）.
[5]	LEEMANN A， WINNEFELD F， MÜNCH B， et al. Accelerated carbonation of recycled concrete aggregates and its implications for the production of recycling concrete［J］. Journal of Building Engineering， 2023， 79： 107779. DOI URL
[6]	JIA X X， LING T C， MEHDIZADEH H， et al. Impact of CO₂ curing on the microhardness and strength of 0.35w/c cement paste： comparative study of internal/surface layers［J］. Journal of Materials Research and Technology， 2020， 9（5）： 11849-11860. DOI URL
[7]	张亚梅，明静. 3%与20%CO₂体积分数下混凝土加速碳化试验研究［J］. 建筑材料学报， 2012， 15（5）： 684-689.
	ZHANG Y M， MING J. Accelerated carbonation test of concrete at 3% and 20% CO₂ volume fraction［J］. Journal of Building Materials， 2012， 15（5）： 684-689 （in Chinese）.
[8]	CHEN Q S， ZHU L M， WANG Y M， et al. The carbon uptake and mechanical property of cemented paste backfill carbonation curing for low concentration of CO₂ ［J］. Science of the Total Environment， 2022， 852： 158516. DOI URL
[9]	XIAN X P， ZHANG D， SHAO Y X. Flue gas carbonation curing of cement paste and concrete at ambient pressure［J］. Journal of Cleaner Production， 2021， 313： 127943. DOI URL
[10]	CHEN X， LI S C， HU M J， et al. Early age accelerated carbonation of cementitious materials surface in low CO₂ concentration condition［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2024， 445： 137975. DOI URL
[11]	LÓPEZ-ARCE P， GÓMEZ-VILLALBA L S， MARTÍNEZ-RAMÍREZ S， et al. Influence of relative humidity on the carbonation of calcium hydroxide nanoparticles and the formation of calcium carbonate polymorphs［J］. Powder Technology， 2011， 205（1/2/3）： 263-269. DOI URL
[12]	YU Q， GUO B B， LI C J. Effects of CO₂ concentration and the uptake on carbonation of cement-based materials［J］. Materials， 2022， 15（18）： 6445. DOI URL
[13]	XU Z H， ZHANG Z X， HUANG J S， et al. Effects of temperature， humidity and CO₂ concentration on carbonation of cement-based materials： a review［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2202， 346： 128399. DOI URL
[14]	GLASSER F P， PEDERSEN J， GOLDTHORPE K， et al. Solubility reactions of cement components with NaCl solutions： I. Ca（OH）₂ and C-S-H［J］. Advances in Cement Research， 2005， 17（2）： 57-64. DOI URL
[15]	CAO Z Y， NIU D T， LV Y. Numerical simulation of neutralization of concrete exposed to CO₂ and SO₂ at different temperature and relative humidity［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2024， 457： 139467. DOI URL
[16]	YIN T Y， LENG Y， JIN L， et al. Promoting the application of water-quenched manganese slag in high-strength mortar through high pressure-temperature-concentration carbonation curing［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2024， 445： 137993. DOI URL
[17]	XIAO M， ZHU Y T， MIN W， et al. A method for identifying hydration stages of concrete based on embedded piezo-ultrasonic active sensing technology［J］. Materials， 2025， 18（20）：4722. DOI URL
[18]	MARENCO-PORTO C A， FIERRO J J， NIETO-LONDOÑO C， et al. Potential savings in the cement industry using waste heat recovery technologies［J］. Energy， 2023， 279： 127810. DOI URL
[19]	CORPORATION I F， PRODUCTIVITY I F I. Waste heat recovery for the cement sector： market and supplier analysis［M］. Washington， DC： World Bank Group， 2014.
[20]	中国水泥协会. 便携式水泥混凝土碳酸钙测量仪： T/CCAS 049—2025 ［S］. 北京：中国标准出版社， 2025.
	China Cement Association. Portable calcium carbonate measuring instrument for cement concrete： T/CCAS 049—2025 ［S］. Beijing： China Standard Press， 2025 （in Chinese）.
[21]	中国水泥协会. 水泥混凝土分层磨粉制样机： T/CCAS 050—2025 ［S］. 北京：中国标准出版社， 2025.
	China Cement Association. Layered grinding and powdering sample preparation machine for cement concrete： T/CCAS 050—2025 ［S］. Beijing： China Standard Press， 2025 （in Chinese）.
[22]	EL-HASSAN H， SHAO Y X. Early carbonation curing of concrete masonry units with Portland limestone cement［J］. Cement and Concrete Composites， 2015， 62： 168-177. DOI URL
[23]	FANG Y F， CHANG J. Microstructure changes of waste hydrated cement paste induced by accelerated carbonation［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2015， 76： 360-365. DOI URL
[24]	HAN J D， PAN G H， SUN W. Elastic modulus change investigation of cement paste before and after carbonation using nanoindentation technique［J］. Procedia Engineering， 2012， 27： 341-347. DOI URL
[25]	国家市场监督管理总局，国家标准化管理委员会. 水泥胶砂强度检验方法（ISO法）：［S］. 北京：中国标准出版社， 2021.
	State Administration for Market Regulation， Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China. Test method of cement mortar strength （ISO method）：［S］. Beijing： China Standard Press， 2021 （in Chinese）.
[26]	MISHRA G， DANOGLIDIS P， SHAH S P， et al. Optimization of biochar and fly ash to improve mechanical properties and CO₂ sequestration in cement mortar［J］. Construction and Building Materials， 2023， 392： 132021. DOI URL
[27]	MISHRA G， DANOGLIDIS P A， SHAH S P， et al. Carbon capture and storage potential of biochar-enriched cementitious systems［J］. Cement and Concrete Composites， 2023， 140： 105078. DOI URL
[28]	KALKREUTH J， ULLRICH A， GARBEV K， et al. Accelerated carbonation of hardened cement paste： quantification of calcium carbonate via ATR infrared spectroscopy［J］. Journal of the American Ceramic Society， 2024， 107（4）： 2627-2640. DOI URL
[29]	ZAJAC M， SKIBSTED J， SKOCEK J， et al. Phase assemblage and microstructure of cement paste subjected to enforced， wet carbonation［J］. Cement and Concrete Research， 2020， 130： 105990. DOI URL

Influence of Low-Concentration CO₂ Environment at 40 ℃ on Early Carbonation and Hydration Reaction Process of Cement Mortar

RichHTML

PDF (PC)

Knowledge

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

Figures/Tables 17

References 29

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

[1]	CHENG Zigao, CONG Yun, ZHANG Yan, LI Gen, ZHI Tianyi, TAN Hongbo. Hydrophobic Properties and Mechanism of TEOS-IBT Synergistically Modified Cement Paste [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(6): 1903-1913.
[2]	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.
[3]	ZHAO Xiaomeng, ZONG Xudong, YANG Yijie, WANG Jie, DU Mingxing, FENG Chunhua. Effect of Recycled Brick Aggregate Loaded with Microorganisms on Crack Self-Healing of Cement-Based Materials [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(2): 426-436.
[4]	JIANG Demin, HU Siyu, KANG Honglong, LI Yujin, HOU Yuxiang. Effect of Modification on Properties of 3D Printing Rice Straw Fiber Cement-Based Composite [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(1): 47-57.
[5]	HAN Zhongyu, LIU Fang, MAO Wenshu. Research Progress on Durability of Rubber Cement-Based Materials [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2025, 44(6): 2159-2171.
[6]	TIAN Peifeng, WEN Yong, GUO Xiaoqi, LIN Haimeng. Preparation and Properties of NO^-₂-LDHs Self-Healing Microcapsules for Corrosion Protection [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2025, 44(5): 1622-1633.
[7]	ZHU Guiwang, QIN Lei, DING Weijian, LI Pingfeng, SUN Ming. Influences of Metamaterials on Bending Toughness of Cement-Based Materials Based on Acoustic Emission Parameters [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2025, 44(2): 424-433.
[8]	DUAN Jinsong, CUI Yong, FU Yongpan, SONG Qida, YU Xiao, WANG Tao, LING Yanfang, FANG Kuizhen. Restricted Expansion Rate of Cement Mortar Containing MgO Expansive Agent under Constant and Variable Temperature Curing Conditions [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2024, 43(9): 3149-3156.
[9]	LI Xuefeng. Sulfate Resistance Performance of Cement-Based Materials Containing Limestone Powder at Low Temperature [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2024, 43(7): 2372-2382.
[10]	LI Jianfeng. Evolution Rule of Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Cement-Based Materials Containing SAP [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2024, 43(6): 2022-2030.
[11]	LYU Yajun, SONG Caihong, DANG Juntao, DONG Binbin, QIAO Min, ZHANG Kangjie, MA Xiaofeng. Comparative Study on Performance of Two Water Resistant Long Afterglow Materials for Preparing Luminescent Concrete [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2024, 43(3): 781-792.
[12]	XIANG Jie, WANG Sheng, LI Yujie, WANG Wenjie. Carbon Nanocomposite Cement-Based Materials for Geothermal Drilling and Production Based on Response Surface Method [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2024, 43(2): 495-508.
[13]	LIU Songhui, ZHANG Yizheng, AN Jiayi, GUAN Xuemao. Research Progress on Synthesis of Polyacrylamide and Its Modified Cement-Based Materials [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2024, 43(12): 4285-4294.
[14]	GUO Zheng, MU Song, ZHUANG Zhijie, ZHANG Hao, ZHANG Lei. Research Progress on Properties of Cement-Based Materials under Medium or High Vacuum Environment [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2023, 42(9): 3075-3082.
[15]	SHI Xinchao, FANG Jingrui, ZHI Xiao, CHEN Ge, MA Tengkun, ZHANG Shuai, QU Qiqi. Effects of Pore Structure and Water Content on Carbonation Curing Performance of Cement Paste [J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2023, 42(8): 2692-2702.