The structural changes induced by accelerated carbonation in alkali-activated slag/metakaolin (MK) cements were determined. The specimens were carbonated for 540 h in an environmental chamber with a CO₂ concentration of 1.0 ± 0.2%, a temperature of 20 ± 2°C, and relative humidity of 65 ± 5%. Accelerated carbonation led to decalcification of the main binding phase of these cements, which is an aluminum substituted calcium silicate hydrate (C-(N-)A-S-H) type gel, and the consequent formation of calcium carbonate. The sodium-rich carbonates trona (Na₂CO₃·NaHCO₃·2H₂O) and gaylussite (Na₂Ca(CO₃)₂·5H₂O) were identified in cements containing up to 10 wt.% MK as carbonation products. The formation of these carbonates is mainly associated with the chemical reaction between the CO₂ and the free alkalis present in the pore solution. The structure of the carbonated cements is dominated by an aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) type gel, independent of the MK content. The N-A-S-H type gels identified are likely to be derived both from the activation reaction of the MK, forming a low-calcium gel product that does not seem to undergo structural changes upon CO₂ exposure, and the decalcification of C-(N-)A-S-H type gel. The carbonated pastes present a highly porous microstructure, more notable as the content of MK content in the cement increases, which might have a negative impact on the durability of these materials in service.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)