ABSTRACT
Carbonation is the term used to describe the effect of carbon dioxide on a material. The phenomenon rarely leads to structural problems but carbonation-induced corrosion can lead to unsightly spalling on structures. The repair costs, for example to multi-storey office development façades, can be considerable. Carbonation of cementitious materials results in a lowering of the pH – making the material less alkaline – and hence the term ‘neutralisation’ is also sometimes used in the literature.
