Corrosion and Corrosion Inhibition of Reinforcing Steel: II. Embedded in Concrete

Abstract

Reinforcing steel, whether embedded in Portland concrete or Portland cement-blast furnace slag concrete and mixed with distilled or tap water, becomes passivated. On the other hand, when the concrete is mixed with sea water, the steel corrodes severely, and when Helwan mineral water is used for mixing, a borderline condition is obtained. Portland cement-blast furnace slag concrete had poorer corrosion resistance compared with ordinary Portland cement concrete.

Steel passivity is not impaired when Portland cement concrete or Portland cement-blast furnace slag concrete is admixed with up to 8% of sulphates. However, when cement extract is used, the passivity is impaired when as little as 0·2% of sodium sulphate is added.

Additions of some anodic inhibitors such as benzoate, chromate, nitrite, phosphate and stearate to a corrosive concrete medium are efficient in preventing the corrosion of reinforcing steel. The critical concentration for inhibition is higher in the case of Portland cement-blast furnace slag concrete than that of Portland cement concrete. Coating the steel with Portland cement slurry alone or Portland cement slurry containing inhibitors improves the corrosion resistance of steel to some extent but does not inhibit the corrosion in strong attacking media.