Maximizing carbon uptake and performance gain in slag-containing concretes through early carbonation

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been identified as a major contributor to climate change. Current CO2 mitigation efforts focus on the removal, recovery and disposal of CO2 at point sources. Finding beneficial uses of as-captured or recovered CO2 is a critical challenge in greenhouse gas mitigation. This thesis investigates the possibility of the beneficial use of carbon dioxide in precast concrete production and the performance, both short-term and long-term, of the concretes so produced.It was found that the uptake by the cementitious binders was significant. Compared to their theoretical capacity, cement could reach a carbonation degree of over 25% when treated as pastes and about 20% when used as a part of concrete. The study compared carbonation-cured and hydrated Portland cement concrete and slag cement concretes in terms of their early strength, late strength, weathering carbonation shrinkage, freeze/thaw durability, water absorption, and pH. The carbonated concrete was generally comparable, or superior, to the hydrated concrete except for the case of a 50% GGBF slag blend which had a slower strength development due to reduced secondary cementitious reaction.A second method of binding carbon into concrete was considered by carbonating ladle slag fines and using them as a fine aggregate. The 28-day strength of concrete, either hydrated or carbonation-cured, made with the manufactured slag aggregate was comparable to that of a hydrated concrete made with conventional fine aggregate. Carbon dioxide uptake by concrete was nearly doubled if carbonation-cured concrete employed carbonated ladle slag as a fine aggregate.It is estimated that close to two million tonnes of CO2 could be sequestered into precast concrete annually in US and Canada if four building products, namely blocks, pavers, cement boards and fibreboards, are processed using carbonation-curing. The approximately 110 million tonnes of cement produced in North America annually are associated with emissions of about 74 million tonnes of CO2. The sequestration from carbonation-curing would represent an emission reduction of 2.7%. The capacity for carbon storage into precast concretes can be further increased if carbonation-treated aggregates are used.The calcium compounds in cementitious materials react readily with carbon dioxide to convert CO2 to thermodynamically stable carbonates. The reaction accelerates strength development and makes the technology appropriate for early age curing. Paste, mortar and concrete samples were examined to quantify such aspects as the carbon dioxide uptake, strength development, and durability of carbonated concrete.