Acceleration of Hydration of Calcium Silicates by Carbon Dioxide Treatment

Abstract

LIME mortars were one of the first cementitious materials and were used extensively in Greek and Roman times. Strength development by the reaction of atmospheric CO₂ with Ca(OH)₂ to form CaCO₃ is slow because the carbonation reaction is controlled by the diffusion of CO₂ at small partial pressures. If high partial pressures of CO₂ are used, however, Ca(OH)₂ can carbonate very rapidly and recently compressive strengths of 2,000–4,000 pound inch² have been achieved in compacted blends of lime with soils¹ and coal refuse². The experimental data^{2, 3} suggest that the carbonation reaction is taking place primarily in the aqueous film surrounding the particles.