This study aimed to analyse the effect of applying CO2 gas to the curing of cement products for the reduction of CO2, not only from the general steam curing process but also from cement factories and thermoelectric power plants, which are major causes of global warming. Cement mortar bar test specimens were produced by brick mixing in Korea. The CO2 uptake rate was measured after 1 hr of CO2 curing and the compressive strength and length changes of the specimens were tested by comparing them with air-cured specimens and steam cured specimens for 5 hr. The CO2 uptake rate was measured as approximately 10% using an electronic scale and a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The CO2-cured specimens had relatively outstanding strength immediately after curing owing to carbonation. However, the strength at 28 days was the lowest due to reduced inner moisture by early carbonation reaction. In addition, the CO2-cured specimens showed the lowest dry shrinkage rate due to significant production of CaCO3, which has excellent dimensional stability and which reduced the initial moisture by an exothermic reaction.

Keywords: Cement bricks, CO2 uptake, CO2 curing, Carbonation, Concrete, Compressive strength, Length change