Carbonation of concrete and its Test

• Before understanding the carbonation process in concrete let us discuss hydration reaction of
concrete and its by-products,

C3S + 6H → C3S2H3 + Ca(OH)2

C2S + 4H → C3S2H3 + Ca(OH)2
Products: (Calcium Silicate + (Calcium Hydroxide)
Hydrate)
(Significant product) (Not desirable Product)
(It is soluble in water and gets leaches out
making the concrete porous, particularly
in Hydraulic Structure)

• Ca(OH)2 have high value of pH ( 12 or 13 in pure solution).

• Concrete exposed to environment in which carbon dioxide also involved. Penetration of
Carbon dioxide into pores of concrete which leads to chemical reaction, this chemical reaction
is known as Carbonation of concrete.
• The by-product calcium hydroxide present in concrete reacts with carbon dioxide present in
environment and gives Calcium Carbonate or further reaction gives Calcium Hydroxide as
product which have lower pH value than calcium hydroxide.

Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O

Or further reaction gives → Ca(HCO3)2

• So as the Ca(OH)2 consumption increases there will be consequent reduction in pH (less than 9).
• Phenolphthalein solution give pink colour to high pH value generally greater than 9. And almost
colourless at less than pH 9 value. Therefore, when we apply Phenolphthalein solution on concrete
and its shows pink colour then it shows that there is no sign of carbonation but if it shows no colour
then it is the sign of carbonation in concrete which leads to the corrosion of steel with further reaction.

No colour shows carbonation of concrete and pink colour shows no

sign of carbonation