The constant action of atmospheric agents is a real problem for every kind of building, both for housing and public infrastructure.
Rain, wind, snow but also sudden changes in temperature and variations in the humidity percentage deteriorate the buildings of our cities.
Some of these damages are immediately visible, while others, due to particular chemical reactions, can go unnoticed until it is too late.
To reduce the risk of collapse and save on renovation costs, it is good to carry out precise tests on building materials in order to guarantee their resistance and durability against these processes.
An essential process to keep under control is carbonation.
What is carbonation?
Carbonation is the chemical process by which a substance, in the presence of carbon dioxide CO2, gives rise to the formation of carbonates.
On some building materials, such as lime or plain concrete, carbonation has neutral if not positive effects.
Different story for reinforced concrete: carbonation is the first cause of deterioration for such material, triggering the corrosion of the reinforcement bars.
The carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere, acting from the outermost layers towards the innermost ones, affects the steel structure, endangering the solidity of the entire building.
Reinforced concrete is one of the most common building materials in our cities and preventing the phenomenon of carbonation with specific tests has become necessary to ensure the safety of buildings.
What factors cause carbonation of building materials?
To understand how much our structure will be affected by carbonation, two variables must be taken into account: the environmental conditions and the characteristics of our concrete.
The environmental conditions that affect the carbonation of concrete are:
- The humidity
- The temperature
- The concentration of CO2 in the air
The characteristics of the concrete to be taken into consideration are:
- The water/cement ratio
- The type of concrete
- Porosity
- Seasoning
- The implementation
From the interaction of these variables, we can predict if and when a carbonation process will take place. But how to do it?
Perform
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