An Experimental Study on the Carbonation Resistance of Conventional Concretes in Vietnam
Received: 20 March 2026 | Revised: 14 April 2026 and 4 May 2026 | Accepted: 15 May 2026 | Online: 19 May 2026
Corresponding author: Quynh Nga Le
Abstract
Reinforced Concrete (RC) is widely used in global infrastructure development. Long-term performance of the RC structures is a primary objective for managers, engineers, and scientists. Global climate change leads to a significant rise in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, particularly in developing nations like Vietnam, due to rapid urbanization. This study examines the carbonation resistance of concrete mixtures with water-to-cement ratios ranging from 0.35 to 0.55 and was conducted in a laboratory setting. Accelerated carbonation tests were performed at the Center for Cement and Concrete (Hanoi) in accordance with the latest standard. The results suggest that concrete with a Water-to-Cement ratio (W/C) greater than 0.50 has low carbonation resistance and should be used with caution in structural applications. Beyond this threshold, the carbonation depth increases rapidly.
Keywords:
carbonation resistance, experimentation, CO2, penetration, corrosionReferences
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Copyright (c) 2026 Quynh Nga Le, Van Dinh Dao, Viet Hung Tran
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