Influence of humidity conditions on the performance of CO2-cured LC3
In the pursuit of low-carbon cement technologies, both limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) and CO₂ curing have shown great promise for reducing emissions in the construction industry. This study investigates the synergistic effects of CO₂ curing and ambient humidity on the mechanical performance an...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525005455 |
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| Summary: | In the pursuit of low-carbon cement technologies, both limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) and CO₂ curing have shown great promise for reducing emissions in the construction industry. This study investigates the synergistic effects of CO₂ curing and ambient humidity on the mechanical performance and microstructure of LC3. Cylindrical LC3 specimens were prepared using a low water-to-binder ratio and compaction molding, followed by 3-hour CO₂ curing under different relative humidity conditions (50 %, 70 %, and 95 %) and subsequent conventional curing. The results reveal that CO₂ curing significantly enhances the strength and densification of LC3. At an optimal cement replacement level of 30 %, compressive strength at 28 days increased by up to 18.8 % under high-humidity carbonation (95 %) compared to non-carbonated reference samples. At 90 days, the strength reached 87.3 MPa. High humidity during carbonation facilitated the formation of calcium carbonate and C-S-H gels, leading to a denser microstructure with reduced porosity and crack formation. These findings demonstrate that combining LC3 with humidity-optimized CO₂ curing offers a robust pathway toward high-performance, low-carbon cementitious materials, with clear implications for sustainable construction practices. |
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| ISSN: | 2214-5095 |