Phase assemblance evolution during wet carbonation of recycled concrete fines

Peiliang Shen, Yangyang Zhang, Yi Jiang, Baojian Zhan, Jianxin Lu, Shipeng Zhang, Dongxing Xuan, Chi Sun Poon

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

88 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this work, recycled concrete fine (RCF), one of the major products generated from waste concrete recycling process, was carbonated in water. The carbonation mechanism of RCF is investigated, aiming to bring forward the basic understanding of carbonation mechanism and develop value-added products. It was found that the CO2 dissolution and calcite precipitation limited the carbonation process for the initial stage. Afterwards, the kinetics was dominated by the dissolution of RCF. Portlandite was firstly consumed and the decalcification of C-S-H involved three steps associated with pH development of the aqueous environment. The main carbonation products were calcite, amorphous calcium carbonate (CC), alumina-silica gel, silica gel and alumina gel. The formed CC was turned from a poorly-crystalline layer into aggregated calcite grains. Meanwhile, a silica-rich layer was still located at the outermost surface of carbonated RCF. The carbonated RCF had a significantly high pozzolanic reactivity, being reused as supplementary cementitious materials.

Original languageEnglish
Article number106733
JournalCement and Concrete Research
Volume154
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • Calcium carbonate
  • Microstructure
  • Recycled concrete fines, Carbonation kinetics
  • Silica gel

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Building and Construction
  • General Materials Science

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