Online Practical 7: Deterioration of Steel-Reinforced Concrete
Part A: Depth of Carbonation
(1) What is carbonation of concrete? Include the relevant reactions and explain what
happens when you spray the sample with phenolphthalein.
Carbonation refers to the reaction between carbon dioxide in the air and calcium
hydroxide in cement paste, represented by the following reaction.
CO2 + Ca(OH)2 → CaCO3 + H2O
The comparatively big calcium hydroxide molecules are essentially replaced by
relatively small calcium carbonate molecules in this process. The pH of concrete is
lowered and its porosity is increased with this replacement. Although the absolute
volume of the concrete remains unchanged, the increase in porosity reduces the
concrete's relative volume and decreases its strength. [1,2]
The depth of carbonation is determined by spraying the concrete sample with
phenolphthalein indicator which shows pink in contact with alkaline concrete with pH
values greater than 9 and colourless at lower pH levels, which suggests carbonation. [3]
(2) Do you think this is a good test?
Yes, as the only limitation is that carbon dioxide can react at depths than that indicated
by phenolphthalein, but it has been stated that this is a rare disadvantage. [4]
(3) Do you think this is an easy test?
Yes
(4) Can you think of a method for determining the amount of carbonate present?
Titration
(5) What factors influence the depth of carbonation? Explain!
The depth of carbonation increases with time, and the rate at which carbonation
progresses is a function of relative humidity (RH). Because the carbonation reaction
requires the presence of water, the range of relative humidity for carbonation is 40 to 80
percent, while higher atmospheric humidity inhibits carbon dioxide diffusion by the
water that has filled the pores. [5]
Part B: Chloride Penetration
Results:
Standardised concentrations:
c(AgNO3) = 0.0254 M
c(KSCN) = 0.0253 M
Table 1: Masses of samples (in g), aliquots (in mL) and volumes of AgNO3 (in mL)
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4
Depth of sample [mm] 0 - 10 10 - 20 20 - 30 30-50
Mass of dust sample [g] 4,82 5,80 5,66 6,68
Aliquot of filtrate [mL] 5 10 25 25
Volume of AgNO3 [mL] 25 10 10 10
Table 2: Volume of AgNO3 used in the chloride penetration test
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4
Initial KSCN volume 0,00 0,018 22,90 0,02
[mL]
Final KSCN volume [mL] 6,82 8,14 25,20 15,06
Volume KSCN delivered 6,82 8,12 2,30 15,04
[mL]
Sample calculation for the determination of the concentration of Chloride using
sample 1
Table 3: Chloride concentration for in each sample.
Chloride concentration(M)
Sample 1 0,0925
Sample 2 0,0049
Sample 3 0,0078
Sample 4 0,0051
0,1000
0,0800
Concentration of Chlroide(M)
0,0600
0,0400
0,0200
0,0000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
-0,0200
Depth of penetratrion(mm)
Figure 1: Plot of the concentration of chloride in concrete against the depth of
penetration
Questions:
(1) Define the terms “total chloride”, “free chloride” and “water-soluble chloride”.
Total chloride: Is the total amount of chloride ion in a concrete sample, comprising
of both bound in the solid phases and free chlorides in the pore solution.
Free chloride: Is the amount of chloride ion in the pore solution produced by
squeezing concrete samples under extreme pressure.
Water soluble chloride: Is the quantity of chloride ion that can be removed from a
concrete sample by leaching it with water at room temperature.
(2) Some methods recommend that no acid is used and the sample is simply boiled in
water. Do you think the information will be different? Justify your answer.
Yes, as the acid is necessary to remove organic material, the chloride concentration
calculated could have many impurities.
(3) What is the name of this method of analysis?
Volhard method (Precipitation titration)
(4) Why is it necessary to add H2O2?
Hydrogen peroxide is added to remove organic material,
(5) Was CaCl2 added to the concrete mix as an accelerator? Justify your answer.
Yes, as calcium chloride has the potential to accelerate the hydration of cement and cut
the set time in half.
(6) It has been found that at chloride concentrations greater than 0.4 wt.%, corrosion
of steel reinforcement is likely to take place. Would the steel in this sample have
been corroding if it was placed at 15 mm? 50 mm?
It would have started to corrode at 15mm as at thay depth the calculated wt% was 0.34%
whilst at 50mm it was a very low 0.07%
References
1. Collins, M., 2022. Carbonation of concrete. [online] Concrete.org.uk. Available at:
<https://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-document.asp?id=736> [Accessed 9 May 2022].
2. Precast.org. 2022. Understanding Carbonation - NPCA. [online] Available at:
<https://precast.org/2015/07/understanding-carbonation/> [Accessed 9 May 2022].
3. Collins, M., 2022. Carbonation depth. [online] Concrete.org.uk. Available at:
<https://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-nuggets.asp?cmd=display&id=463> [Accessed 9
May 2022].
4. Lo, Y. and Lee, H., 2002. Curing effects on carbonation of concrete using a phenolphthalein
indicator and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Building and Environment. 5th ed.
5. Poursaee, A., 2016. Corrosion of Steel in Concrete Structures. Woodhead Publishing.
