Evaluation of the Effect of Accelerated Carbonation in Cement–Bagasse Panels after Cycles of Wetting and Drying

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the accelerated carbonation curing process as an alternative to preserve sugarcane particles and the physical–mechanical properties of cement–bagasse panels after accelerated aging tests consisting of 200 wetting and drying cycles. The cement–bagasse panels were produced with a nominal density of 1.25 g/cm3 and subjected to two curing processes: (1) an initial 48-h cure in a controlled environment (temperature 60°C; 90% relative humidity) for 25 days, then in a saturated environment; and (2) an initial 48-h cure in a controlled environment (60°C; 90% relative humidity), followed by a carbonated cure (15% CO2 concentration) for 24 h and a further 24 days in a saturated environment. After 28 days of curing, the panels were subjected to accelerated aging tests. The results indicate that the accelerated carbonation preserved sugarcane bagasse, and carbonated panels had inferior physical properties and superior mechanical properties when compared to the noncarbonated version after accelerated aging tests, proving the efficiency of curing by accelerated carbonation as an alternative to the preservation of the physical–mechanical properties of cement–bagasse panels.