Internal curing effect of raw and carbonated recycled aggregate on the properties of high-strength slag-cement mortar

The internal curing effect of raw and carbonated recycled aggregates on the properties of high-strength slag-cement mortar was investigated. First, the aggregates were characterized using different methods and their effects on the shrinkage, drying mass loss, non-evaporable water content, and compressive strength of the mortar were evaluated. Their incorporation reduced the shrinkage and improves non-evaporable water content, i.e., degree of hydration, with a slight reduction in compressive strength. Because of the carbonation of the aggregates, the mixtures incorporating carbonated aggregates show lesser improvements in non-evaporable water content and compressive strength than the ones with non-carbonated aggregates. However, the shrinkage property was better improved by the incorporation of the carbonated ones.