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The cement paste attached to natural aggregates has a significant effect on the quality of recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) because it usually has higher porosity and lower strength than natural aggregates. This work attempted to improve the quality of RCAs through carbonation of the attached cement paste. During carbonation reactions, CO2 reacted with Ca(OH)2 and calcium silicate hydrate (C─S─H) to form CaCO3 and silica gel, which filled the pores in the attached cement paste. Thus, carbonation increased the density, and decreased the water absorption and crushing values of the RCAs. It, thus, increased the flowability and compressive strength and decreased drying shrinkage of the recycled aggregate mortars.
Zhang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.