Property changes of reactive magnesia–stabilized soil subjected to forced carbonation

A reactive magnesia (MgO) was used to stabilize a natural soil; the MgO-stabilized soil was subjected to forced carbonation with pressurized gaseous CO2 in a triaxial cell set-up. The change of physical properties, including bulk density, moisture content, dry density, specific gravity, and porosity, of the stabilized soil during carbonation was studied. The mechanical and microstructural properties of the carbonated MgO-stabilized soil were also investigated through unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results indicated that the carbonation of MgO-stabilized soil consumed CO2 and water, and produced expansive carbonation products; this consequently increased the dry density, and reduced the moisture content, specific gravity, and porosity of the stabilized soil. After being carbonated for only 1.5 h, the MgO-stabilized soil yielded remarkable strength, with UCS higher than that of the 28 day ambient cured Portland cement–stabilized soil, mainly due to the high binding effect of carbonation products and the low porosity of carbonated MgO-stabilized soil. The carbonated MgO-stabilized soil achieved a high degree of carbonation in a few hours (≤12 h), with the maximum CO2/MgO ratio in a range of 0.76–1.07.