Influence of Internal and External Humidity Difference on the Distribution Characteristics of the Carbonated Zone of Cement-Based Materials

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the effect of internal and external humidity differences on the distribution characteristics of the carbonated zone of cement-based materials. Carbonation tests with ambient humidity and pore water saturation as the influencing factors were implemented. The calcite content of the mortar along the depth of carbonation was presented. The rationality of the carbonation model was verified by the calcite test results, and the effect of internal and external humidity differences on the carbonation zone distribution of cement-based materials was analyzed by the model. The results showed that the test results of calcium carbonate and the simulation results can clearly distinguish the completely and partly carbonated zones of cement-based materials. The effect of pore water saturation on the distribution of the carbonated area was conspicuous, but the difference in pore water saturation cannot change the variation of the extent of the carbonated zone with ambient humidity. The change regularities of fully and partly carbonated zones with humidity differences were obtained.