Autoclaved cement-quartz pastes: The effects on chemical and physical properties when using ground quartz with different surface areas part II: Results of accelerated carbonation

Abstract

Previously saturated and oven dried, autoclaved cement-quartz prisms, made with quartz of varying fineness, were exposed to carbon dioxide for 24 hours. The extent of carbonation and drying shrinkage, as well as the degree of cracking were found to increase with increasing surface area of quartz. The binder became progressively more like SiO2-gel in character. Thermal analysis revealed both low- and high-temperature decarbonation steps, the mass loss increasing, in both decarbonation steps, with the surface area of quartz used. Difficulties encountered in interpreting the results, attributed to a multiplicity of factors involved, are highlighted. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd