Title:
Effect of Carbonation on Radon Exhalation Rate in Concrete
Author(s):
Magnus J. Döse and Johan L. Silfwerbrand
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
119
Issue:
3
Appears on pages(s):
67-78
Keywords:
building materials; carbonation; diffusion; health; radon gas exhalation; supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs)
DOI:
10.14359/51734603
Date:
5/1/2022
Abstract:
Crushed rock aggregates may lead to unhealthy concentrations of radon gas in concrete buildings. The radon exhalation rate is dependent not only on the concrete mixture but also on its microstructure. Carbonation changes the microstructure, and it also
influences the radon exhalation rate. With the guidance of the standard carbonation test, EN 12390-3:2019, and radon exhalation rate tests as specified in ISO-EN 1165-7, it is found that carbonation has a significant effect on the radon exhalation rate, being reduced by approximately 25% for ordinary portland cement (OPC) after carbonation. In concretes with a substitution of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), the radon exhalation rate increased by approximately 30% after carbonation. Conclusively, concretes containing OPC and concretes containing SCMs (fly ash and slag) showed opposite trends as a result of increased carbonation ingress into the concrete mixtures. Diffusion measurements of OPC concrete and concrete containing slag (SCM) support this hypothesis.
Related References:
1. World Health Organization, “WHO Handbook on Indoor Radon: A Public Health Perspective,” Geneva, Switzerland, 2009, 110 pp.
2. World Health Organization, “Housing and Health Guidelines,” Geneva, Switzerland, 2018, 152 pp.
3. Andersson, P.; Carlsson, M.; Falk, R.; Hubbard, L.; Leitz, W.; Mjönes, L.; Möre, H.; Nyblom, L.; Söderman, A.-L.; Yuen Larsson, K.; Åkerblom, G.; and Öhlén, E., “Radiation Environment in Sweden (Strålmiljön i Sverige),” SSI report 2007:02, Stockholm, Sweden, 2007, 138 pp. (in Swedish)
4. Sweden Green Building Council, “Environmental Building 3.0 with Updates 20170925 (Miljöbyggnad 3.0 Bedömningskriterier för Nyproducerade Byggnader 170510 170915),” Stockholm, Sweden, 2017, 76 pp. (in Swedish)
5. Shi, C.; Jimenez, A. F.; and Palomo, A., “New Cements for the 21st Century: The Pursuit of an Alternative to Portland Cement,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 41, No. 7, 2011, pp. 750-763. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.03.016
6. Ali, S.; Neaz Sheikh, M.; Sargeant, M.; and Hadi, M. N. S., “Influence of Polypropylene and Glass Fibers on Alkali-Activated Slag/Fly Ash Concrete,” ACI Structural Journal, V. 117, No. 4, July 2020, pp. 183-192.
7. Kurda, R.; de Brito, J.; and Silvestre, J. D., “Carbonation of Concrete Made with High Amount of Fly Ash and Recycled Concrete Aggregates for Utilization of CO2,” Journal of CO2 Utilization, V. 29, 2019, pp. 12-19.
8. da Silva, S. R., and de Oliveira Andrade, J. J., “Investigation of Mechanical Properties and Carbonation of Concretes with Construction and Demolition Waste and Fly Ash,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 153, 2017, pp. 704-715. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.07.143
9. Isaksson, M., and Rääf, C., Environmental Radioactivity and Emergency Preparedness, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2017, 614 pp.
10. Chauhan, R. P., and Kumar, A., “Radon Resistant Potential of Concrete Manufactured Using Ordinary Portland Cement Blended with Rice Husk Ash,” Atmospheric Environment, V. 81, 2013, pp. 413-420. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.09.024
11. Chauhan, R. P., and Kumar, A., “Study of Radon Transport through Concrete Modified with Silica Fume,” Radiation Measurements, V. 59, 2013, pp. 59-65. doi: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2013.10.009
12. Taylor-Lange, S. C.; Stewart, J. G.; Juenger, M. C. G.; and Siegel, J. A., “The Contribution of Fly Ash toward Indoor Radon Pollution from Concrete,” Building and Environment, V. 56, 2012, pp. 276-282. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.03.009
13. Justnes, H.; Skocek, J.; Østnor, T. A.; Engelsen, C. J.; and Skjølsvold, O., “Microstructural Changes of Hydrated Cement Blended with Fly Ash upon Carbonation,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 137, 2020, pp. 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2020.106192
14. Lollini, F., and Redaelli, E., “Carbonation of Blended Cement Concretes after 12 years of Natural Exposure,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 276, 2021, pp. 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.122122
15. Li, N.; Farzadnia, F.; and Shi, C., “Microstructural Changes in Alkali-Activated Slag Mortars Induced by Accelerated Carbonation,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 100, 2017, pp. 214-226. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2017.07.008
16. Lagerblad, B., “Mechanisms and Mode of Carbonation of Cementitious Materials,” CBI report 2017-1, Swedish Cement and Concrete Research Institute, Borås, Sweden, 2017, 32 pp.
17. Qin, L.; Gao, X.; and Chen, T., “Influence of Mineral Admixtures on Carbonation Curing of Cement Paste,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 212, 2019, pp. 653-662. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.04.033
18. Saillio, M.; Baroghel-Bouny, V.; Pradelle, S.; Bertin, M.; Vincent, J.; and d’Espinose de Lacaillerie, J.-B., “Effect of Supplementary Cementitious Materials on Carbonation of Cement Pastes,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 142, 2021, pp. 1-18. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106358
19. Zeng, Q.; Li, K.; Fen-Chong, T.; and Dangla, P., “Pore Structure Characterization of Cement Pastes Blended with High-Volume Fly-Ash,” Cement and Concrete Research, V. 42, No. 1, 2012, pp. 194-204. doi: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2011.09.012
20. Utgenannt, P., “The Influence of Ageing on the Salt-Frost Resistance of Concrete,” PhD thesis, Lund University of Technology, Lund, Sweden, 2004, 346 pp.
21. Boumaazza, M.; Turcy, P.; Huet, B.; and Aït-Mokhtar, A., “Influence of Carbonation on the Microstructure and the Gas Diffusivity of Hardened Cement Pastes,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 253, 2020, pp. 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119227
22. Wu, B., and Ye, G., “Development of Porosity of Cement Paste Blended with Supplementary Cementitious Materials after Carbonation on the Pore Structure,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 145, 2017, pp. 52-61. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.03.176
23. Leemann, A.; Loser, R.; Münch, P.; and Lura, P., “Steady-State O2 and CO2 Diffusion in Carbonated Mortars Produced with Blended Cements,” Materials and Structures, V. 50, No. 6, 2017, pp. 247-253. doi: 10.1617/s11527-017-1118-3
24. Vu, Q. H.; Pham, G.; Chonier, A.; Brouard, E.; Rathnarajan, S.; Pillai, R.; Gettu, R.; Santhanam, M.; Aguayo, F.; Folliard, K. J.; Thomas, M. D.; Moffat, T.; Shi, C.; and Sarnot, A., “Impact of Different Climates on the Resistance of Concrete to Natural Carbonation,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 216, 2019, pp. 450-467. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.04.263
25. UNSCEAR, “Exposures from Natural Radiation Sources – Annex B,” United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, New York, 2000, pp. 84-156.
26. Klemola, S.; Leppänen, A. P.; Attila, A.; and Renvall, T., “Gamma Spectrometric Sample Measurements at STUK Laboratories,” Proceedings – Third European IRPA Congress, Nordic Society for Radiation Protection, Helsinki, Finland, June 14-18, 2010.
27. Döse, M., “Ionizing Radiation in Concrete and Concrete Buildings – Empirical Assessment,” licentiate thesis, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, School of Architecture and Built Environment, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, 2016, 91 pp.
28. ISO 11665-7, “Measurement of Radioactivity in the Environment — Air: Radon-222 — Part 7: Accumulation Method for Estimating Surface Exhalation Rate,” International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2012, 23 pp.
29. SS-EN 15167-1, “Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag for Use in Concrete, Mortar and Grout - Part 1: Definitions, Specifications and Conformity Criteria,” Swedish Standards Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2006, 21 pp.
30. SS-EN 206:2013+A1:2016, “Concrete – Specification, Performance, Production and Conformity,” Swedish Standards Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2018, 104 pp.
31. SS-EN 12350-2, “Testing Fresh Concrete – Part 2: Slump Test,” Swedish Standards Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2009, 20 pp.
32. SS-EN 12390-10:2019, “Testing Hardened Concrete – Part 10: Determination of the Carbonation Resistance of Concrete at Atmospheric Levels of Carbon Dioxide,” Swedish Standards Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2019, 32 pp.
33. Thomas, M. D. A.; Matthews, J. D.; and Haynes, C. A., “Carbonation of Fly Ash Concrete,” 2000 CANMET/ACI International Conference on Durability of Concrete, SP-192, V. M. Malhotra, ed., American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2000, pp. 539-556.
34. SS-EN 12390-3, “Testing Hardened Concrete - Part 3: Compressive Strength of Test Specimens,” Swedish Standards Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2019, 32 pp.
35. Swedish Concrete Guidance Handbook, “Concrete Guidance, Material Section (Betonghandboken, material),” Svensk Byggtjänst, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997, 1127 pp. (in Swedish)
36. Helsing, E.; Parg, L.; Mueller, U.; and Ellison, T., “Hydrophobic Admixtures in Sprayed Concrete – Influence on Properties and the Behavior at Spraying (Hydrofoberande medel I sprutbetong – Inverkan på egenskaper och beteendet vid sprutning),” CBI report 2017:5, Swedish Cement and Concrete Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2017, 53 pp.
37. Neville, A. M., and Brooks, J. J., Concrete Technology, second edition, Prentice Hall, 442 pp.
38. Mostafa, J.; Alireza, P.; Omid, F. H.; and Davoud, J., “RETRACTED: Comparative Study on Effects of Class F Fly Ash, Nanosilica and Silica Fume on Properties of High-Performance Self-Compacting Concrete,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 94, 2015, pp. 90-104. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.07.001