Developing an easy-to-build laboratory chamber for CO2 experiments

Abstract

Carbonation chambers, in general, are used in civil engineering laboratories both for verification tests of the useful life of reinforced concrete, and for CO 2 curing tests of unreinforced cementitious materials. These chambers can be purchased from specialized manufacturers at a high cost, or they can be built by the researchers themselves. It so happens that in the literature there is no manual for making and operating an accelerated carbonation chamber. It is observed that its development and manufacture depend a lot on the needs and financial conditions of the research, with no standard or Technical Norm to be followed. This article presents a compilation of concepts related to the accelerated carbonation reaction and brings a bibliographical review about the different carbonation chambers made by researchers, in which it was possible to verify a great variation regarding the material to be used in the structure of the chamber, location of CO 2 and air inlet and outlet valves, temperature and humidity control, among others; and in addition, it presents a descriptive memorial for the construction of an automated and accessible carbonation chamber to be used in laboratories.