Investigating the steel-cement interface in high-temperature, high-pressure carbon dioxide environments

This study investigates the impact of high-temperature, high-pressure carbon dioxide on the steel-cement interface, crucial in engineering structures and carbon capture storage systems. Experiments conducted on N80 steel and ordinary portland cement in synthetic aquifer brine revealed that CO2 exposure significantly exacerbates steel corrosion and cement degradation. The corrosion current density of steel increased to 1.2 μA/cm2 after six months in CO2, compared to 0.3 μA/cm2 in unexposed samples. Cement samples showed a marked decline in mechanical properties, with hardness reducing from 1.25 GPa (giga-Pascal) in control samples to 0.65 GPa after six months. The steel-cement interface integrity also diminished, as evidenced by a decrease in acoustic impedance from 45.0 M-Rayl to 34.0 M-Rayl over six months. These results emphasize the need for advanced materials and strategies to enhance the durability and safety of structures in CO2-rich environments.