Measuring the performance of CO₂ injection into field-cured concrete in the Arabian Gulf climate: an experimental study

Figures & data

Figure 1. SEM image shows the formation of nano carbonates (CaCO₃) as a result of the addition of CO₂ to the concrete material (photo by CarbonCure technologies).

Figure 2. Pressurized CO₂ gas in a storage tank at the mixing site of qanbar ready mix concrete, Saudi Arabia (photo by author).

Table 1. Mix design proportions for the reference and CarbonCure mixes (kg/m^3.).

Component	Reference	CarbonCure I	CarbonCure II
Type I Portland cement	265	255	365
Type F fly ash	115	115	–
Coarse aggregate	1105	1115	1145
Fine aggregate	748	752	760
Water	130	127	125
Fluidum PC 314	0.5% by weight of the binder	0.6% by weight of the binder	0.7% by weight of the binder
Arcrete D 10	0.5% by weight of the binder	0.6% by weight of the binder	0.7% by weight of the binder
Water/binder	0.35	0.35	0.35
CO2	–	0.135% by weight of the binder	0.2% by weight of the binder

Figure 3. The CO₂-concrete product is being cast in 6 x 12-inch cylinders at qanbar ready mix concrete, Saudi Arabia (photo by gulf construction).

Figure 4. Tests on the temperature at various time intervals.

Table 2. The chemical analysis of water in the Arabian gulf compared to drinkable water.

Designation	Drinkable Water	Arabian Gulf
pH	6.5	7.1
Density (g/mL)	-	1.07
Conductivity (ms/cm)	350	120
Total dissolved solids (g/L)	0.2	0.68
Total hardness as CaCO3 (g/L)	0.08	17.7
Calcium (g/L)	0.03	2.5
Magnesium (g/L)	0.05	6.2
Chlorides as Cl^− (g/L)	0.058	38
Sulfates as SO4^++ (g/L)	0.043	6.8

Figure 5. Fresh properties for the reference and CarbonCure mixes.

Figure 6. Compressive strength results for the reference and CarbonCure mixes.

Figure 7. Concrete densities for the reference and CarbonCure mixes.

Figure 8. Water absorption results for the reference and CarbonCure mixes.

Figure 9. Chloride permeability results for the reference and CarbonCure mixes.

Figure 10. Water soluble chloride ion contents for the reference and CarbonCure mixes.

Figure 11. Acid soluble sulfate ion contents results for the reference and CarbonCure mixes.

Table 3. Efficiency of cement and cementitious materials in reference and CarbonCure mixes (MPa∙kg⁻¹∙m³).

Component	Reference	CarbonCure I	CarbonCure II
Average cement efficiency	0.20	0.17	0.13
Average cementitious efficiency	0.14	0.11	0.13

Figure 12. TGA weight loss of CaCO₃ heated to 1000 ºC at a heating rate of 10 ºC/min.

Data availability statement

Data will be made available upon request.