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    Corrosion of Steel Embedded in Concrete: Are Covered by A Thin Iron-Oxide Film

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    Steven Kua
    Steel embedded in concrete is passivated by a protective iron-oxide film. This film can be destroyed by carbonation which lowers the pH of concrete below 11.5, or by chloride ions above a threshold concentration. Once the film is destroyed, the steel undergoes electrochemical corrosion which produces rust, cracking and spalling of the concrete cover over time. Proper concrete mix design and sufficient cover thickness can help protect reinforcing steel from corrosion.

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    Corrosion of Steel Embedded in Concrete: Are Covered by A Thin Iron-Oxide Film

    Uploaded by

    Steven Kua
    29 views10 pages
    Steel embedded in concrete is passivated by a protective iron-oxide film. This film can be destroyed by carbonation which lowers the pH of concrete below 11.5, or by chloride ions above a threshold concentration. Once the film is destroyed, the steel undergoes electrochemical corrosion which produces rust, cracking and spalling of the concrete cover over time. Proper concrete mix design and sufficient cover thickness can help protect reinforcing steel from corrosion.

    Original Description:

    NTU Civil Engineering, Steel corrosion

    Original Title

    steel corrosion

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    Steel embedded in concrete is passivated by a protective iron-oxide film. This film can be destroyed by carbonation which lowers the pH of concrete below 11.5, or by chloride ions above a threshold concentration. Once the film is destroyed, the steel undergoes electrochemical corrosion which produces rust, cracking and spalling of the concrete cover over time. Proper concrete mix design and sufficient cover thickness can help protect reinforcing steel from corrosion.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    29 views10 pages

    Corrosion of Steel Embedded in Concrete: Are Covered by A Thin Iron-Oxide Film

    Uploaded by

    Steven Kua
    Steel embedded in concrete is passivated by a protective iron-oxide film. This film can be destroyed by carbonation which lowers the pH of concrete below 11.5, or by chloride ions above a threshold concentration. Once the film is destroyed, the steel undergoes electrochemical corrosion which produces rust, cracking and spalling of the concrete cover over time. Proper concrete mix design and sufficient cover thickness can help protect reinforcing steel from corrosion.

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    of 10

    Corrosion of Steel Embedded in Concrete

    • In high alkaline environments, ordinary steel products


    are covered by a thin iron-oxide film (passive film)
    – impermeable
    – strongly adherent to the steel surface
    – making the steel passive to corrosion
    – metallic iron will not corrode until the passive film is
    destroyed
    • The passive film may be destroyed by
    – Carbonation
    – Chloride ions
    Carbonation
    • CO2 concentrations
    – rural air 0.03%, unventilated lab >0.1%
    – large cities 0.3% on average, up to 1% in extreme cases
    Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O
    pH >12.5 ~9
    • When pH reduced to a level <~11.5, passive film is destroyed
    • Depth of carbonation
    d = k t 0.5
     t - time (year)
     k - relates to the permeability of concrete, cement type, T,
    RH, micro- and macro climatic conditions (frequency and
    duration of wetting and drying)
    Exposure classes related to environment actions
    (SS EN 206-1, 2009)
    Chloride Ions
    • Sources of Cl
    – sea water
    – de-icing salt
    – salt contaminated aggregate
    – contaminated water
    – admixtures
    • With high chloride-ion content,
    passive film maybe destroyed
    even at pH >11.5
    • The amount of Cl required to
    initiate corrosion depends on
    pH of pore solution
    – Cl/OH  0.3-0.6, corrosion
    Mechanism of Corrosion
    • Electrochemical process
    • Anode reaction
    (oxidation)
    • Cathode reaction
    (reduction)
    Mechanism of Corrosion
    • At the anode (1)

    (2)
    • Formation of hydrated ferric oxide (rust), volume
    increase that cause cracking and spalling
    Corrosion of Steel Reinforcing Bars
    • Development of anode & cathode areas due to different
    electrochemical potentials
    – Different impurity levels in steel bars
    – Different residue strains
    – Different concentration of oxygen or electrolyte in contact
    with the metal
    • Rate of corrosion depends on
    – Availability of O2 and H2O
    – Resistivity of concrete
    • Consequence of corrosion of embedded steel
    – Stain
    – Reduce cross sectional area of the steel bars, and reduce
    load carrying capacity
    – Loss bond between steel and concrete
    – Cracking and spalling of concrete cover
    Staining, from rust.

    Deformation and spalling due to


    corrosion of reinforcement.
    Exposure classes related to environment actions
    (SS EN 206-1, 2009)
    Protection against Steel Corrosion
    • Material selection
    – Reduce the porosity of concrete
    • reduce w/c
    • use mineral admixtures
    – Other reinforcing materials (e.g. stainless steel)
    • Design
    – Sufficient thickness of concrete cover
    • Coating and membrane
    – Epoxy coating of steel reinforcing bars?

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