The resistance of alkali-activated cement-based binders to carbonation

Carbonation is a degradation process that negatively affects alkali-activated materials, and represents one of the main perceived limitations for their adoption in structural applications. In this chapter the protocols followed to assess the carbonation susceptibility via accelerated methods are presented, along with a critical overview of the role of testing conditions and chemistry of the binding phases in defining the results acquired from those tests. It is highlighted that there is a need to develop testing protocols that better replicate the natural carbonation mechanism of alkali-activated materials, to enable accurate prediction of their long-term performance.