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Spalling concrete is largely due to a natural deterioration process called carbonation. Carbon dioxide in
the air diffuses into the concrete and reacts with the alkalis in it. The concrete becomes carbonated and this allows the embedded steel bars to corrode. These corroded steel bars expand and
exert a force on the surrounding concrete causing the concrete to bulge and crack.
The early stages of spalling concrete will not affect the safety of the building. However, the
spalling concrete should be repaired as soon as possible before the steel bars corrode further and damage larger areas hence the term 'concrete cancer'.
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