Controlled Carbonation in Concrete to Enhance Physical Property by Acid Rain Experiment

Abstract

Acid rain is most dangerous environmental issue caused because of air pollution. Rain water
becomes weakly acidic because carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere reacts with water to
form carbonic acid. But sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide molecules resulting from industrial
pollution and automobile exhaust react with rain water to form strong acids. These molecules
react together to cause acid rain. An experimental investigation was carried out to study on
controlled carbonation in concrete to enhance physical property by acid rain experiment.
Strength parameters of concrete exposed to acid rain environment were studied. Artificial acid
rain environment with pH 4.5-5 level where made by the mixture of sulfuric, nitric and carbonic
acid solutions in the laboratory. After being exposed to the simulated acid rain solutions
for various periods, compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength test,
Scanned electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed on
the concrete specimens at various damaged states.