Factors That Affect Color Loss of Concrete Paving Blocks

Concrete paving blocks are used for several applications, such as the paving of squares, parking garages, and cycling lines. They are usually made of a dual concrete mixture and the surface layer is colored through the addition of pigments. In time, the surface layer of the blocks may fade as a consequence of weathering due to the climate and other factors; this will result in the loss of aesthetic requirements. In this paper, several factors that could affect the color and microstructure of concrete paving blocks are examined in specimens with different coloration. Color and microstructural variations were compared with new blocks. Color analysis carried out by means of spectrophotometry and macro- and microstructural analysis showed that the major factors that lead to color variation are wear and environmental exposure.