Carbonation - The eventual killer of reinforced concrete

Carbonation decreases the pH of the concrete pore solution. This can cause the reinforcing bars within concrete to corrode and crack the cover of the concrete. It can also cause calcium hydroxide particles to dissolve, leading to an increase in the porosity and permeability of the concrete. This video explains the process of carbonation and outlines methods to delay carbonation in concrete structures.
Thanks to Hailey Goodale! She edited this video and is my Director of Awesome.
My website is:
www.tylerley.com/
If you would like to donate to my channel please visit www.tylerley.com/giving

[@xXcagllariXx]

RIP headphone users.

[@orcoastgreenman]

Thine hath felt the wrath of the DRAGON!!!

[@HayatTeleHealth]

damn!!!

[@zippy441]

I guess Tey must have re uploaded the audio... I'm wearing head phones seems good!

[@willbee6785]

Kill the dragon bit.

[@towelam2421]

I have lost hearing in my left ear and I can now hear my pulse in the right. otherwise thanks. very informative.

[@willbee6785]

You now have tinnitus.

[@sinclairconstructiongroup4844]

Great work, Tyler. Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@TylerLey]

Thank you!!!

[@michaelmcilrath9466]

Loe your videos…. I built a ferro-cement boat in the 1970’s but Im still learning so much from you. Thank you

[@Lumby1]

Wonderful lectures Mr. Ley, subscribed immediately, much appreciated, sir.

[@bappigorai]

That's was awesome. Animation makes super easy to grasp the fundamentals quickly. I would request you to make videos on GGBS and why it can't be used as 100% replacement for making concrete.

[@TylerLey]

I am glad you like it! I have some videos on slag. Here is one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqiydKFtqNKgf9U Here is the other: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jICsomiJe6mKrMU Slag needs an activator to make it react. That is why we mix OPC and slag together. You can use slag at 100% replacement but you need to add an alkali activator to the pore solution. This is called a geopolymer. I would suggest trying 80% slag and 20% OPC. For some applications, this is a really great mix. This material can have problems with carbonation and so watch out!

[@sergeyshubin6679]

I asked a question in other you video and found the answer here. You are best of the best, Tylor!

[@TylerLey]

Thanks Sergey!

[@absolutelynobody9462]

Thanks Tyler!

[@ireshNawarathna]

Wow 😊 amazing stuff and well explained too

[@lotfidj7825]

great work thank you sir

[@mohamedsaady9838]

nice and simple lecture good job bro

[@jbhix2691]

Fascinating.

[@darlington3267]

God bless you so much..After watching your lecture..i perfectly under stood what several hours of class lecture couldnt explain.

[@sterlgirlceline]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️You have such an endearing personality in addition to top-caliber, empirical information. Thank you!

[@dhanajibangar3122]

Your videos are awesome..

[@ronallan8680]

I did like the video! Please keep them coming

[@TylerLey]

Thanks!

[@gagegreen6863]

Thank you sir.

[@TheTomBevis]

I've been under bridges where I could see stalactites growing from the carbolic acid effects.

[@eladlinaima8806]

Thank you your video helped me a lot.

[@TylerLey]

Thanks!

[@falgunsankhat]

thank you sir 🙏🏻

[@bobbywhitus6107]

Tyler, great video as always. I love how your passion comes out. You truly are a freak for concrete, in the best way. How would ground water seepage relate to the carbonation of concrete? Assuming some CO2 is dissolved into the water as it falls through the atmosphere, and then more CO2 is added from the soil, would ground water seeping through cracks or pores greatly accelerate the process? What is more damaging to concrete, water vapor transmission or liquid water absorption?

[@ForensicCats]

Keep it up Tyler... ty

[@TylerLey]

Thank you! More coming!!!

[@jakovbudimac9971]

Amazing chanel, just descovered it in time for an exam :) Could you do a video on the effects of alkali (NaOH or Ca(OH)2 for example) on concrete, i cant seem to find much on this topic. Cheers!

[@kenbehr5501]

Yo amigo first I like to thank you for your videos. I been in this business for 15 years and I actually work for the company that was on the i35 bridge that fell but I would like to point out that all epoxy coatings on all rebar is applied with out any prep any other industrial painting is done by first blasting steel so it has a profile something for paint to grab on to it no wonder epoxy falling off it kinda stupid and it that simple

[@mallikarjun430]

sir the video information is too good and very usefull information please make a video regarding carbon cure and solidia measure to control carbonation.

[@mopo3953]

Super cool, I appreciate the effort to explain it like to 5 years old

[@TylerLey]

Thanks!

[@vjaceslavsverdins5174]

Awesome, I will never forget about the Knights of Calcium Hydroxide order😃

[@kenmorrisproducer]

I read an interesting research paper where baking soda was added to concrete before it being poured to carbonation.

[@MsZizi92]

Very nice and well explained video! However, I would like to notice something. You mentioned that the biggest concern in geopolymer concrete is carbonation. I think you are might referring to alkali activated materials which are NOT Geopolymers. The carbonation of geopolymer concrete does not affect the pH. It yields K2CO3 or Na2CO3 with a minimum pH of 10-10.5, which protects chemically the reinforcement against corrosion.

[@junioralberto6328]

Thank You Mr.Tyler for the concise explanation. anyway, is there any correlation between carbonation and chloride penetration especially concrete structures located in coastal line? Which phenomenon has more detrimental effect for concrete?

[@SS-je9ue]

Tyler.... I am researching the use ICF Insulated Concrete Forms. Naturally comparing wood frame longevity to concrete. Combining the use of FRP rebar or Basalt in this application for residential construction appears to be a step in the right direction. I am curious with regards to what effect if any the insulated forms might have on slowing carbonation and therefore increasing the life of the concrete? Any thoughts or research in this direction?

[@nobreighner]

Normally don't even click thumbnails that look like this, but your info is better than expected - thanks for putting it out there. CarbonCure has to give carbonation a head start, and they seem to sidestep the subject. In 50 years maybe we'll know if it mattered. Fresh concrete does lose some slump with CO2 injected, but not much different.

[@TylerLey]

Thanks for the comment! I have watched your videos in the past and really like where you are headed. We should talk about a collaboration sometime as I am a concrete bubble freak. I have a bunch of videos on the topic.

[@nobreighner]

Thanks for your responsiveness. I have to think about presenting the term "spacecrete", because the material is essentially regular concrete - can have air or not - but it "defies gravity" regardless. Excessive air makes it way easier to do that, but a lot lot weaker, and so only incidental air from injected thickeners is included. But many people think it is aerated cement because of the name. Last break was 4400 psi. 3D print people tell me that their mix is 8x the cost of concrete, plus labor/equip of onsite mixing. We inject admix at

[@TylerLey]

Sounds really cool! Let me know if you want to talk offline.

[@nobreighner]

I sent an email - just making sure it did not go to the spam folder.

[@TylerLey]

Got it! I have been swamped today.

[@robertplunkettschesslab]

I have a question. If you made a structure out of self compacting concrete with micro and macro glass fibres with steel fibers as well and used fiber basalt rebar and then made the footer out of self compacting concrete with macro and micro glass fibers and fiber basalt rebar and just left out the steel fibers wouldn't this type of structure take the best advantage of this enivitable process?? You would have a ductile structure attached to a non ductile footer and over time as the process unfolded there would be corrosion in the structure but none in the footer even if all of the steel fibers eventually corroded the footer would effectively become stronger due to the process and the upper structure after losing all of the steel fibers would become less ductile but also less dense making it easier for the now stronger footer to support. I'm considering building a house and watched almost all your videos on concrete and this was the ultimate direction I was leaning. Is my analysis correct or am I missing something? The point would be that I'd get a structural trade off over time. I would lose ductility but gain strength and the strength ratio between the footer and the main structure would be increased by never having any steel fibers in the footer to begin with that way the slight density loss in the main structure would add to the total ratio of strength gain. So I lose a structure that can be ductile over time but eventually it would just become like a giant artificial rock with the denser rock being the footer. Am I wrong here?

[@huntera123]

Great video. So the amazing concrete trusses and other sophisticated support elements relying on pre/post tensioned steel are doomed due to gas infusion, no matter the weather??!!

[@ElectricityTaster]

Do you have a video on Solidia's technology? Sounds interesting in combination with fiber rebars.

[@homayounshirazi9550]

Someone at U of Arizona has introduced addition of Iron in the mix and the elimination of cement altogether with I introduction of CO2 and water. States the product has strength equal that of concrete. Could you comment on that, please?

[@majjood02]

simply amazing! I learned a lot from your videos!!

[@thehomeconstructiontoolcha857]

What about zink anodes, with copper wire welded to the cage. like the hudge zink blocks we dropped in the bay attached to a warf. four hundred to five hundred pound blocks, every 20 feet or so along a 1100 ft warf. its been about 12 years. are the zink blocks still protecting the steel rebar? My boat eats zinc anodes like candy. also. a Hot boat Dock or Warf with leaky power. eats up zinks faster.

[@drewd7824]

Can you do a video about what we should be asking the plant about their mix?

[@billhopen]

can you paint on new calcium carbonate solution to invade the pours an nutrilize the acid formation?

[@dodyh657]

Thanks for the hard work and funny way to explain all of these boring topics.. It works for me, man! Can we use liquid densifier eg sodium/lithium silicate to help to reduce the AAC problems? Which one is more effective to fight those problems, liquid densifier vs penetrating sealer (eg. Silane, siloxane, siliconate)? Since both products increase concrete impermeability (in different way).

[@dhanajibangar3122]

How does the concrete curing takes place?Can u explain with the chemical reaction pls...

[@Ilove3SGTE]

I'd like to point out that it sounds like this is only a problem if we are using iron rebar. It sounds like the concrete is stronger so if we use a different reinforcement maybe we can eliminate that problem.

[@jimlennington4254]

Does a crystalline water proofing additive such as Xpex slow this carbonation process down?

[@huantran5725]

Good video. Can you make video about use steel slag in concrete!

[@TylerLey]

Check these out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jICsomiJe6mKrMU kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqiydKFtqNKgf9U

[@robertmcanarney7589]

Does sealing concrete effect this condition? What do you think about aircrete?

[@dbl88888]

Hi Tyler. Thanks for your video. Im a subscriber. How about aircrete used for walls. It floats meaning water wont penetrate it. What do u think about it used for walls. Its mainly used for insulation not to.carry weight. Can u make a video about it. Thanks

[@GrazUralKamaz]

What if you paint over concrete... Or plastering ? Will it work ?

[@arunbisht5524]

May i know the easist way to remove the carbonation process in a wall made by stones and concrete

[@thzzzt]

"Some rust on rebar is good" I've often heard. The rebar I get from my local yard often is already rusted somewhat. Could you address this issue? Is "some" rust good? And how much is "some"?

[@AmazeConcrete]

Really i like all of yours good topics #AmazeConcrete

[@samben882]

How do you know if concrete is suffering from carbonation or Chloride attack, they seem similar. Do you have to do a phenolphthalein to test?

[@MrGGPRI]

Boulder Dam was completed in 1935-- ancient and done without computers and knowledge now available for cements. Should we be worried now about 84 years later that the concrete used will deteriorate and fail ??

[@jeffwilson1399]

Just make good concrete! That is half the battle. Consolidation, curing, and excessive w/c ratio are problems most often created by the contractor. My experience is that it is far more difficult to be a ready-mix supplier, than a concrete contractor.

[@TylerLey]

Jeff, I agree that making good concrete is the key. That is what I said at the end of my video. You are right that every step in the process is critical.

[@hg2.]

What about giving it a coat of paint, for a sealer?

[@danhill514]

how does the increase in voids lead to shrinkage mechanically?

[@kintudominique6275]

What if you have already built the structure and there are signs of carbonation, what do you do?

[@theyuha]

Does this reaction occur on areas protected from the weather, like under ground and in covered areas? Does silane help keep this from happening?

[@TylerLey]

Any place air can get to. In the soil this happens over the top few feet.

[@theyuha]

@@TylerLey 100 years does seem very long for the service life of a structure. Does silane extend this time- does it act as a barrier to this?

[@minkotter1242]

What about plastering with cement mortar and then whitewash ?

[@santtilagmailcom]

Does painting of the surface and keeping it in good paint help how much?

[@AHMEDALSHAIBANIasa]

you may refer to EN 1504- repairing principles. will help you much.

[@bandhukakuruppu1021]

Hi! At 2:44 , you are telling that corrosion will begin at pH = 10. But, in color test, acidic condition (clear color, pH below 8) is responsive for higher corrosion. Could you please explain the confusion here? btw learned a lot from this vid. Thanks!!!

[@ed1pk]

What’s the confusion? That pH test just so happens to change colors at 8. It’s not exact but close enough. Any pH starting at 10 and below causes corrosion. The lower the number, the more acidic thus more corrosion.

[@asharuddeentharammal1131]

awesome

[@TylerLey]

Thanks!!!

[@mlrable]

Would a mixture of baking soda help I solution

[@salamamer702]

Thank you Relly we want a solution for all problems is there additive which Mix to concrete in concrete car

[@TylerLey]

Thanks Salam for the response. I am not sure I understand, could you ask again?

[@patkonelectric]

@@TylerLey He was joking. Your the Sheldon Cooper of concrete. Not really, just a language problem .

[@ForensicCats]

They want a magic additive that can be added to all the mixtures in the concrete truck... Of course, it does not exist... (he wants an aspirin)...

[@salamamer702]

Tyler Ley My question is whether there is an added product that is suitable for all concrete defects

[@dustinmarkley45]

Could you just spray a solution periodically on the outside to maintain the higher ph?

[@honeytubs]

Would lime work as such a solution? Whitewash for example.

[@chrisyoung1996]

I think that your ability to see into the outcome is important but the ability to look at the end and begin again is hidden in many structures city buildings bricks falling off walls etc which leads me to think of how primative we all really are

[@mustafah9209]

RIP ashen one.

[@roygbiv5164]

I wonder, without googling it, if this is a similar process to tooth decay especially when someone drinks a lot of carbonated beverages?

[@matekochkoch]

Have you ever made a pH check on sand? It is not rare that it goes well below 6 pH.

[@ashokkingkumar]

My house is entire lime+clay mortar-plaster & lime concrete with teak wood infused.. i plan to build new lime house but concrete??? Lime + zinc gal steel bar + traditional mix (jaggery+ haritaki) etc herbs and zero cement is possible or ...??? House with 40 - 50 yrs life span is ok for me but i need complete lime house for fresh inside air + other health reasons... Teak is very very expensive than FRP... KINDLY ADV...!!!

[@davidcmoffatt]

Another noob dumb question. Why not add anode rods to the rebar like they do for maritime steel? Seems like the process in concrete is much slower so the rod would last decades. If you had an exposed bit of rebar you could even replace the rods. Just curious. Thanks

[@PraxZimmerman]

What i'm hearing is i should keep a co2 scrubber in my basement.

[@sinclairconstructiongroup4844]

We are making the best concrete that we can!

[@TylerLey]

Awesome!!!

[@aymannassar6988]

👍👍👍

[@TylerLey]

thank you

[@lumo9435]

Isn't highly carbonated concrete more permeable than non-carbonated? I've read some papers claiming so.

[@lumo9435]

​ @Tyler Ley Here's one www.claisse.info/My%20papers/Paper%2011.pdf Can you please answer?

[@richardbaker3842]

What make ancient concrete last 1000s of year like the Roman aqueducts and a number of Roman structures.

[@adamr1637]

What about lithium admixtures?

[@TylerLey]

Adam, They are good for ASR but I have never seen them looked at for carbonation.

[@huntera123]

So what's going to happen to the big concrete dams🤯. Hoover dam failing damages the entire United States. Man, you've ruined my sleep. How much would galvanized rebar help? What about complex environments where salt can be carried in the air... wouldn't that percolate into your voids and wreak even more damage??

[@gary.richardson]

When I watched this video, it reminded me to ask what happens if a concrete mix is degassed (by vacuum) and then pressurized and air entrained with a specialty gas mix. For instance, injection with argon, krypton, nitrogen, or potentially some self healing reactive mix maybe. I know that temperature regulates how much oxygen is in water from learning about Aquaponics (a hybrid between Hydroponics and Aquaculture). And when thinking about these things, I try to find weaknesses to what I ask and possible counter actions. For instance, a more stable gas entrained may slow down or stabilize pH reduction but become a health hazard in confined or enclosed spaces if too much is permeated, unchecked into a death zone (perhaps due to design oversight to incorporate capture zones and proper work controls). So I ask, anyone, what insights, knowledge of case studies, or observations you may have to share. I find this "what if" interesting and appreciate whatever may be shared. Thank you

[@davidgdmz4551]

LoL, you geekin' out, yea sure all we gotta do is hire people w straws to blow you krypto gas into wet concrete. Go sweep a floor, you'll be a great janitor

[@Jrez]

All I got from this was that concrete is basically Game of Thrones.

[@YouGotTheCob]

dragon gave me a fucking heart attack man what the fuck

[@technosaurus3805]

Alternative to "carbon cure" - use diet Sprite instead of water 😉... or just switch to fiberglass rebar already

[@ernestoestrada8092]

How to made good concrete?

[@ernestoestrada8092]

40000psi 3000psi etc

[@qaswedfr1234]

you forgot the H+ in the water

[@32353235e]

More buffer, more flyash

[@TylerLey]

Thanks for the comment. Actually, fly ash can make it worse. Fly ash consumes the calcium hydroxide to form CSH. This reduces the buffer but makes it harder for the carbon dioxide to enter. It depends on how much fly ash you use if it is worth it. More than 40% replacement is questionable.

[@dbc1683]

Tyler, I would never dislike one of your videos, but this one is annoying because of that trendy editing you’ve done. You know, cutting the video after every sentence, the starting again. I like the lecture style videos much more. Please keep sharing your knowledge, as I’m fascinated with the content.

[@edwardfoehring8827]

Why do my chimney bricks spall ?

[@nedisawegoyogya]

No, geopolymer concrete won't undergo carbonation. But it will undergoes the same weathering as granite, which is far slower I'd guess.

[@stupidburp]

loud

[@itsAttow]

0:51 see u later r.i.p

[@chrisrathbun4148]

Why is my company putting CO2 back into the mix?

[@bpark10001]

CO2 being absorbed out of the atmosphere is NOT a green thing, because the CO2 in the cement raw material was cooked out and released into the atmosphere when the cement was made.

[@TylerLey]

It is better than not being absorbed. Can you think of any other material that absorbs some of the CO2 that it released? =) I am kinda kidding because I don't think the amount that it absorbs is very much. Thanks!!!

[@bpark10001]

@@TylerLey Ultimately, the amount absorbed is equal to the amount released when the cement is "cooked" (that is the primary reaction in the kiln other than dehydration). But the heat required for the kiln is usually made by burning carbon-based fuel, so even with the after-absorption, there is a net release of CO2.

[@ElectricityTaster]

@@TylerLey My bones.

[@colorsonparade6093]

Can’t I just add a calcium carbonate slurry onto my driveway every once in a while to stop this process?

[@khiemnguyenhuu8437]

rip my ears @@

[@luderudecrude]

Idea, use CO2 to make the bubbles in aircrete. if the bubbles are evenly dispersed and the CO2 is good in thin layers, then you should have a superior product

[@TylerLey]

The CO2 will carbonate the concrete. This makes it weak, unable to protect the reinforcing steel, and it will also crack.

[@luderudecrude]

@@TylerLey Tyler Ley I want to play with aircrete. I intend to build a house sometime in the next year and I'm looking for the cheapest way to do it and still have a sound house. I think aircrete is my solution. I've been watching honeydocarpentry, he's building a shed from it and has made some really effective aircrete and I'm just wondering if there is a better gas to use than raw air. Obviously oxygen would be bad. I'd like to see if using hydrogen would be a combustible product or if do to it's low density would it provide and easier spot for carbon to squeeze into and keep it sequestered away from the material. Or possibly helium. I don't know if using helium is economically viable. I really don't know anything about all of this so I love the fact that experts are on KZbin to explain as much as possible and provide their experiences. Can you give a guess as to what other gases in your aircrete might do? Is there one that might bond with co2 and keep it out of the mix?

[@ElectricityTaster]

idea: make graphene out of CO2 then make rebar out of carbon nanotubes. Now, if only this were profitable.

[@bobyk87]

So in the long term skyscrapers and modern concrete buildings are a scam.

[@teslastones]

No. Wrong Carbonation destroys OPC Carbonation makes the concrete stronger if you use the appropriate binder/cement

[@AgnesCongdon-xk8hr]

Make up your mind.

[@teslastones]

Once again-- only an issue with OPC. Invention of Portland cement was actually due to a search for a hydraulic cement ( all traditional cements available were C02 setting mechanisms ). As such, they get stronger as they absorb C02 as opposed to being degraded Several traditional cements have this attribute -- as well as having as much as a 92% less carbon footprint than OPC All concrete in America poured before 1875 was not OPC. The first load of Portland cement came into Boston harbor in 1875 The fact structures like the Erie Canal , Brooklyn bridge, etc were not OPC is why they have lasted so long Your remark about Geopolymer and carbonation is entirely erroneous

[@zombiekiller_challenger_rt7057]

I was enjoying your video until you began with the theatrics. I clicked away as soon as you performed the fire breathing dragon. Later

[@Kobrag90]

Someones grumpy. Fun proffessors are better than stogy ones.