Estudo da carbonatação natural de concretos com pozolanas: monitoramento em longo prazo e análise da microestrutura

Abstract

The carbonation in concrete is caused by the penetration of environmental carbonic anhydride (CO2) in concrete by diffusion, being considered one of more important structures pathologies. It occurs naturally in concrete structures, from the surface and causes the alkalis neutralization reactions, depassivating the rebars and its corrosion possibility. In this study the concrete investigation with 14 years old composed by binary and ternary mixtures of pozzolans as silica fume (10%), fly ash (25%), rice husk ash (25%), fly ash and silica fume (15+10)% and fly ash with rice husk ash (10+15)%. The natural carbonation depths were measured in cylindrical specimens with 0,5, 1, 2, 4 and 14 years readings, exposed in lab internal environment, in normal conditions of temperature and CO2 concentrations. Natural carbonation coefficients in the five cited ages were calculated, in equality of water/binder (w/b) relationship (0.35, 0.45 and 0.55), and 50 and 60 MPa axial compressive strength, and the results were compared with the short term tests (accelerated). Microstructure analysis by means of remained calcium hydroxide, hydrated compounds by DRX, porosity by Hg intrusion porosimetry and visual analysis by MEV and EDS were accomplished. Among the pozzolans mixtures the silica fume (10%) presented lower carbonation for w/b 0.35 and 0.45. For w/b 0.55 the better performance occurred to the fly ash and rice husk ash ternary mixture. The relationships between accelerated and natural carbonation coefficients showed decrease of the natural coefficients related to the accelerated ones, in a relation that varied between 1,0 and 2,0 (mean) for the pozzolanic mixtures. In 50 and 60 MPa compressive strength equality, the carbonation depended of the pozzolan type and content, being influenced by the chemical and physical properties of each one in particular. The microstructure tests results confirmed the CH decrease in the carbonated layer and the CaCO3 increase, and the hydrated silicates and silicoaluminates depolymerization. According NBR 15575-5 was observed that it is possible to obtain concretes with until 25% of pozzolans with performance of the project useful life, in front of carbonation, of 60 years.