RILEM RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMANDATIONS DE LA RILEM
TC56-MHMHYDROCARBONMATERIALS
TC56-MHMMATtRIAUX HYDROCARBONt]S

CPC-18 Measurement of hardened concrete

carbonation depth
CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
4.1

Aim and scope

Definition
Test materials
Laboratory tests
Specimens: type, making, curing and storage

1. AIM AND SCOPE

The method of testing consists of determining the depth
of the carbonated layer on the surface of hardened
concrete by means of an indicator. This method can be
carried out, using specimens made in the laboratory, on
specimens taken from completed structures (site
specimens), and be used for testing on site.
Tests on laboratory specimens are generally used for
comparing the rate of carbonation in concrete specimens
with various mixes, under defined conditions. Tests on
site or with site specimens are necessary, in general, to
give information on the state of a structure or structural
m e m b e r at a certain moment in time, under the conditions on site. Because of possibly wide scattering of
carbonation depths on site and because of the various
controlling factors, site tests are not suitable for
comparing various concretes but refer only to the part
tested.
In the case of tests using site specimens, the requirements for accuracy of measurement are in general less
severe than for laboratory specimens. Unless otherwise
stated in the following pages, the suggestions given for
laboratory tests should be interpreted accordingly.
Carbonation affects various properties of hardened
concrete. Primarily, the protection of the reinforcing steel
against corrosion, which is originally guaranteed by the
highly alkaline pore solution of the cement paste, becomes
*This recommendation has been finalized by CCC, RILEM
Coordinating Committee for Concrete Technology. It was first
published as a draft in Material and Structures No. 102 (1984).
0025-5432/88 9 RILEM

4.2
4.3
5.
5.1
5.2
5.3

Testing
Test results and test report
Testing completed structures
Specimens
Testing
Test results and test report

lost. Climatic conditions leading to the highest rate of

carbonation are not identical with those which accelerate
corrosion of steel. Other concrete properties, like
strength, permeability and resistance to some chemical
and physical attacks, as well as shrinkage, are also
affected by carbonation.
This recommendation is aimed at improving the comparability of carbonation tests. It is not aimed at laying
down optimal test conditions for special testing problems.
2. DEFINITION
Carbon dioxide which penetrates the surface of concrete
can react with alkaline components in the cement paste,
mainly Ca(OH)2. This process (carbonation) leads to a
reduction of the pH-value of the pore solution to less than
9. The depth of the carbonated surface layer is called the
depth of carbonation dk.
The reduction of the pH-value can be made visible by
the colour change of a suitable indicator.*'
3. TEST MATERIALS
A solution of 1% phenolphthalein in 70% ethyl alcohol is
suitable for determining the depth of carbonation.
Phenolphthalein turns non-carbonated concrete red, and
remains colourless in carbonated concrete.
*This indicator method does not make it possible, however, to
determine whether the reduction of the pH-value may have
resulted from influences other than the absorption of CO2 (e.g.
SO2, HCI or other acidic gases).

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R I L E M R e c o m m e n d a t i o n C P C - 18

4. LABORATORY TESTS

Form

cl

Form

4.1 Specimens: type, making, curing and storage

Concrete prisms with a cross-section of 100 mm x 100 mm
that can be split into lengths of roughly 50mm, for each
date of testing, are suitable. For mortar, prisms 40 mm
40 mm x 160 mm are recommended from which a slice of
roughly 20 mm is split off at each date of testing. In no
case shall the shortest dimension of the prism be less than
3 times maximum aggregate size.
During specimen preparation, it is important to avoid
any unwanted effects on the concrete surface which could
impair measurement. For example, stripping agents shall
be kept to a minimum. Normally the methods for making
and curing samples (RILEM Recommendation CPC-3)
should be used. The kind of curing chosen (duration of
water storage, extent of drying by air storage, accelerated
hardening, etc.) must be precisely defined and followed
during the tests.
Climatic conditions of storage (relative humidity,
amount of CO2 concentration, etc.) must be precisely
defined. Specimens may be stored indoors or out of
doors. For indoor storage roughly 0.03% CO2 concentration,* a temperature of 20~ and a relative humidity of
65% are recommended. Out of doors, storage under
cover (protected against rain) or without cover must be
differentiated. Air must be able to reach the test surfaces
unhindered at all times. For this reason, leave a free space
of at least 20 mm around the specimens.

4.2 Testing
The following dates of testing are recommended: 28, 90,
180 days; 1, 2, 4, (8, 1 6 . . . ) years, after the first exposure
to CO~. The longer testing periods should be chosen when
a slow rate of carbonation is expected (e.g. storage out of
doors without cover). In the case of more specialized
investigation, additional dates may be necessary.
In order to measure the depth of carbonation in
laboratory specimens, a slice is broken off for each test.
The slice must be thick enough to avoid any chance of
carbon dioxide penetration from the end surface affecting
the observed measurements from the side surfaces.
Measure the depth of carbonation on the freshly broken
surface. Saw-cuts are not always suitable.
Clear the broken surface immediately of dust and loose
particles after breaking, and then spray with indicator
solution. If only a weak coloration or none at all appears
on the treated surface, repeat the spray test after the
surface has dried. Avoid the formation of flow channels
on the test surface. In order to stabilize the coloration
temporarily, a resin may be sprayed after drying.
The measured depth o f carbonation is influenced by the
time of measuring after application of the indicator
solution. Therefore, measurements within a series of tests
Short tests may be carried out using higher CO2 concentrations.
At present no universal agreement exists as to the value of short
tests using considerably higher CO2 concentrations.

(a)

(bt

Form

(c)

Fig. 1(a-c) Definitions of the depth of carbonation.

should always be made at the same time. Measuring about
24 hours after spraying is recommended, when the margin
between carbonated and non-carbonated concrete is
often more clearly demonstrated than at earlier
measuring times. The precision of the measurement must
be to the nearest 0.5 mm. Carbonation depths less than
0.5 mm are not differentiated.
When the carbonation front runs as a straight line
parallel to the surface, the depth of carbonation dk is
determined as shown in Fig. la.
When the carbonation front runs as shown in Fig. lb, a
graphical average dk and the maximum depth dkm~ should
be recorded. If the carbonation front runs parallel to the
surface with isolated deeper carbonated areas, as in Fig.
lc, then the maximum depth dk~ax of the carbonation
must be given as well as the normal depth dk. In this case,
no average is calculated.
Ignore greater depths of carbonation in the corner
areas of laboratory specimens, where carbon dioxide has
penetrated from two sides at once.
In the case of concretes with large-sized maximum
aggregates, care must be taken to measure the carbonation only in the hardened cement paste.

4.3 Test results and test report

The average depth of carbonation is reported for each
specimen.

M a t e r i a l s and Structures
The average depth of carbonation for laboratory
specimens includes values from all sides. If the depth of
carbonation on the floated surface varies considerably
from those on the other surfaces, this should be noted.
Transition areas which have lost their colouring after 24
hours are to be judged as carbonated.
The test report must include
(a) General data:
(i) Concrete mix.
(ii) Curing (type, duration).
(iii) Climatic conditions (relative humidity, temperature, wind speed, orientation and precipitation during
storage outdoors, concentration of CO2.
(b) Test data:
(i) Age of concrete.
(ii) Form and size of concrete surface tested.
(rio Measuring apparatus,
(iv) Length of time between spraying with indicator
solution and measuring.
{v) Average depth of carbonation d~ to the nearest
0.5 mm with details of how the carbonation front runs,
according to Fig. la: regularly; Fig. lb: irregularly dk and
dkmax; Fig. lc: regularly dk and dkmax.
(vi) Where relevant, record the depth of carbonation
on the floated surface.
(vii) Precision of measurement and/or tolerance.
5. TESTING COMPLETED STRUCTURES
5.1 Specimens
The determination of the depth of carbonation may be
carried out using drilled cores taken from completed

455
structures and subsequently split. The diameter of such a
drilled core should be at least 50 mm. If a rough estimate
is required, e.g. only information as to whether the
carbonation line has already reached reinforcing steel,
then the concrete surface may be broken by chisel and the
test carried out directly on site.

5.2 Testing
The determination of the depth of carbonation in drilled
cores should be carried out immediately after drilling,
using the procedure of Section 4.2. If a longer storage is
unavoidable for special reasons, the specimens must be
stored in CO2-free containers, until they can be
measured.
Measure the depth of carbonation on surfaces split
from the samples at right-angles to the surface of a
structural member. Measurements carried out on the
outer surface of drilled cores are less accurate.

5.3 Test results and test report

The depth of carbonation shall be reported to the nearest
1 mm.
The test report must contain, in addition to the items
given in Section 4.3, the following details:
(i) Identification of the structure.
(ii) Location of drilling and the orientation of the
surface exposed to CO2 in the building (vertical or
horizontal).
(iii) Date of drilling and of test.
(iv) General assessment of the concrete (structure of
the concrete, aggregates, pores).