Carbonation curing method to produce wet-cast slag-based concrete products

A method of producing a wet-cast slag-based concrete product comprising a slag-based binder and steps of:

• obtaining a workable non-zero-slump concrete composition having a first water to slag-based binder ratio by weight of at least 0.2, a slump value in a range of 5 mm to 250 mm and a compaction factor ranging from 0.7 to 1.0;
• casting the non-zero-slump concrete composition into a mould;
• pre-conditioning the non-zero-slump concrete composition within the mould to produce a pre-conditioned slag-based intermediate comprising a second water to slag-based binder ratio by weight that is less than the first water to slag-based binder ratio by weight, the pre-conditioning of the non-zero-slump concrete composition including flowing air through holes defined by the mould;
• after the casting of the non-zero-slump concrete composition, and after the pre-conditioning of the non-zero-slump concrete composition within the mould, curing the pre-conditioned slag-based intermediate with a gas containing carbon dioxide to produce a moulded wet-cast slag-based concrete product, including subjecting the pre-conditioned slag-based intermediate to a positive pressure with the gas containing carbon dioxide by injecting the gas containing carbon dioxide through the holes defined by the mould, including increasing a pressure of the gas containing carbon dioxide inside the mould;
• and
• after the curing of the pre-conditioned slag-based intermediate, demoulding the moulded wet-cast slag-based concrete product to provide the wet-cast slag-based concrete product.