Chloride content and pH value in the pore solution of concrete under carbonation

Chloride content and the pH value of the pore solution in the neighborhood of steel reinforcement are decisive parameters for initiation and rate of corrosion. The pore solution of cement mortar and hardened cement paste has been expressed from the pore space by high pressure in the investigation. The influence of the water-cement ratio, age, and addition of chloride to the fresh mix on chloride content in the pore solution has been determined by ion chromatography. At the same time the pH value of the pore solution has been determined. The dissolved chloride content decreases with increase in the water-cement ratio. The amount of bound chloride increases with time, but it decreases with decreasing content of dissolved chloride in the pore solution. A significant influence of carbonation on the dissolved chloride content of the pore solution has been observed. With complete carbonation, the dissolved chloride content in cement mortar and hardened cement paste increases by a factor between 2 and 12. The bound chloride decreases by 27%-54%. As expected, the pH value decreases from around 13.2 to as low as 8.0 due to carbonation. It can be concluded that carbonation not only lowers the pH value but liberates bound chloride. This is one obvious reason why the combined action of chloride penetration and carbonation accelerates steel corrosion and shortens the service life of reinforced concrete structures.