Natural carbonation of aged alkali-activated slag concretes

Alkali-activated slag concretes stored for 7 years under atmospheric conditions are assessed, and the structural characteristics of naturally carbonated regions are determined. Concretes formulated with a 400 kg/m3 and water/binder (w/b) ratio between 0.42 and 0.48 present similar natural carbonation depths, although these concretes report different permeabilities after 28 days of curing. The inclusion of increased contents of binder leads to a substantial reduction of the CO2 penetration in these concretes, so that negligible carbonation depth values (2 mm) are identified in concretes formulated with 500 kg/m3 of binder. Calcite, vaterite, and natron are identified as the main carbonation products formed in these concretes. These observations differ from the trends which would be expected in comparable ordinary Portland cement-based concretes, which is attributable to the physical (permeability) and chemical properties of alkali-activated slag concretes promoting high long-term stability and acceptably slow carbonation progress under natural atmospheric conditions.