Corrosion Assessment –

Half-Cell Potential Method

Credit Seminar- CE 694

Yash Shah
Under supervision of Prof.Mohamad Salman
M.Tech. –CTaM (Civil)
22nd Nov’ 2016
 TOPICS OF DISCUSSION -
 Corrosion and the passive layer
 Half-Cell Potential Apparatus and Procedure
 Interpretation of results
 Factors affecting the Test
 Case Study

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The Passive Layer

 pH >11.5
 By alkali,hydroxide concentration
 Corrosion rate - 0.1 µm per year
 Without the layer ,corrosion - 1,000 times higher -(ACI222
2001)
 Excess of chloride ions (Cl−/OH- >0.6) destroys passive
layer
 CO2 reacts with alkanity and reduces the pH

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  Water molecules attracted
and orient at the metal
surface`
 Ions of opposite charge
accumulate near surface`
 Cations have more tendency
to hydrate`
 Unhydrated anions move
more close to the metal
 Anions cause more corrorsive
damage `
 Rate depends upon Potential
difference across interface

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Corrosion

Gabriel A. Farotade Computatonal Analysis of System and Design Parameters of Electrodeposition

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for Marine Applications 5
  The electron/charge transfer causes potential difference
 Current b/w anode and cathode is accompanied by potential field
surrounding the corroding bar
 Equipotential lines intersect the surface of concrete
 Higher –ve potential values indicate high chance corrosion (Brownie
Corrosion et al. 1983)

Potential

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Half Cell
Potential
 Locate corroding rebars
 Identify the position for further destructive analysis (cores for
chloride analysis, inspection windows to visually examine the
corrosion state of the rebars etc.)
 Evaluate the efficiency and durability of repair work
 Design an anode layout of cathodic protection systems or
electrochemical restoration techniques

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Half Cell Potential Apparatus
Voltmeter
Reference Electrode
Connector to reinforcing steel

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Voltmeter
Reference electrode is connected
to the negative terminal

Reinforcing steel to the positive

terminal of the voltmeter

Minimum acceptable input

impedance is 10 M-Ohm

Maximum current of 10 pA
Anodic Site

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Reference  Necessary to define type of electrode used
Electrode  Defined, constant and reproducible potential versus
the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) should be
mentioned-
1. Copper / copper sulfate sat CSE + 0.318 V SHE
2. Calomel (Hg / Hg2Cl2) KCl sat. SCE + 0.241 V
SHE
3. Silver chloride (Ag / AgCl) KCl sat. SSCE +
0.199 V SHE
 1st one mainly used for site conditions – robust and
fairly accurate
 If concrete contaminated with sulphates –other
electrodes used
 Porous plug- wet sponge used as conductive bridge

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  Electrical connection to the rebars requires a
metallic, electrically sound contact
Contact to the  If steel accessible crocodile clips may be used
reinforcement  Rust to be cleaned
 If embedded in concrete – 25mm drill through
cover zone
 4mm drill through rebar & insert a self tapping
screw with attached lead
 External metallic feature of the structure such as a
pipe or parapet- provided electrical continuity is
maintained

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  Reinforcement continuity may not be present overall or
locally.
 Structures such as large structures like bridge decks,
different construction intervals or on very old
structures
 Prior continuity check important
 The resistance determined with AC measurements
between remote points on a structure should be < 1
Ohm
 If the resistance values are higher, multiple electrical
contacts shall be made to the reinforcement

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  Structure to be saturated enough to decrease the
electrical resistance of the circuit.
Pre-wetting  Continuous electrical circuit formation
 Half cell stably placed on the concrete surface for 5
mins to check fluctuation in reading
 If voltage reading is stable (+/-0.02 V ) pre-wetting not
required

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Potential Point Point Measurement-
measurement • Testing on points in grids marked on surface
• Spacing depends on the structure
• ASTM C 876 recommends a spacing of 1.2 meter for bridges
• If difference in voltage between adjacent points exceed 150
mV, a closer spacing is suggested
• Higher stability while recording required
• A point representative of larger area
• Lower accuracy
• Measuring underside - reference electrode is filled
withsufficient electrolyte solution.
• Cheap

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  Contour Mapping – use of wheels
Potential Mapping  100 m² per hour
 Multiple wheel arrangement available
 Softwares for easy acquisitions and mapping plot
available with instrument
 Also the distance covered as per software checked
frequently with the coordinate system on the structure.
 Continuous saturation of contact required
.

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 Phase of Corrosion Activity Potential as measured by- CSE
Source: Appendix of ASTM C 876
Phase Potential as measured by Corrosion Activity
Copper Half Cell

Initial Phase < - 200 mV <10% probability of

corrosion
Transient Phase - 200 mV to - 350 mV Uncertain
Interpretation of Final phase - 350 mV >90% .Corrosion occurring

results positively

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 Situation Half-cell Corrosion of Applicable to
potential shift steel reinforcement ASTM C876
Carbonation/ to negative increase yes
Factors decrease in pH
Increase in chloride to negative increase yes
influencing concentration
Potential results Anodic corrosion
inhibitor
to positive decrease yes

Cathodic corrosion to negative Decrease no

inhibitor
Decrease in oxygen to negative may not No
concentration increase
Epoxy-coated rebar to positive not related no
Galvanized rebar to negative not related no
Source- Dense concrete cover to negative not related no
Ping Gu and J.J. Beaudoin, Concrete resistance to positive not related no
“Obtaining Effective Half-Cell Dry concrete to positive not related no
Potential Measurements in Reference electrode to positive not related no
position
Reinforced Concrete Structures”,
Coatings and sealers to positive not related no
1998.
Concrete repair patch to positive or negative not related no
Cathodic protection to negative not related no
Stray current Fluctuating between positive not related no
and negative
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  Fluctuation of Potential measurement with chloride content, temperature,
reference electrode and pre-wetting time
Case Study Paper-  Prestressed concrete (PC) bridge
E. Nakamura, “Half Cell Potential  Near the coastline in Japan- 200m from sea
Measurement to Assess Corrosion
Risk of Reinforcement Steel in a
 Life -30 years.
PC Bridge”, International RILEM  No signs of deterioration on the concrete surface
Conference, 2008.  Silver/silver chloride electrode after 30 minutes of the pre-wetting
 Measurement spacing as per reinforcement spacing at 300mm

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  Carbonation –
 The depth of carbonation by spraying phenolphthalein solution was
approximately 9 mm.
 The thickness of concrete cover at the web reinforcement was 40
mm.
 Carbonation had almost no relationship with corrosion

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• Silver/silver chloride electrode

30 minutes of pre-wetting

Moisture content was 5-8%

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T
• The half-cell potential in summer was shifted by
approximately 40 mV to more negative values than in
winter
• The difference of the gradient became clear in summer

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 Average difference was approximately 70 mV on
the whole of the beam
Conversion equation of half-cell potential However, potential gradient almost equal

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Pre- wetting
30min
90min
150min
The gradient is same
Average values in descending order
-- 90min >150min >30min

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As per ASTM C879-- All values
above –350 mV (limit for 90%
probability)
Corrosion risk is low
Hence , numerical criteria do not necessarily agree with the corrosion state

Various factors to be taken into consideration

Focus should be more on potential gradient than the potential values

Equipotential contour map is a better tool for assessing the corrosion risk

ASTM C879 recommends around 1.2m for bridge deck

However if so, the localized corrosion point(at point no.75) might have been missed .
Measurement location should be as per reinf. spacing (300mm)

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 In addition to half-cell potential measurements it is often
necessary to use other data such as chloride contents, depth of
carbonation, delamination survey, rate of corrosion results,
environmental exposure conditions,etc.
Consultation with experienced personnel in field of corrosion is
always advisable

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 References
 E. Nakamura, “Half Cell Potential Measurement to Assess Corrosion Risk of
Reinforcement Steel in a PC Bridge”, International RILEM Conference, 2008.
 B. Elsener, “Half-cell potential measurements – Potential mapping on
reinforced concrete structures”, RILEM TC 154-EMC, 2003.
 Ping Gu and J.J. Beaudoin, “Obtaining Effective Half-Cell Potential
Measurements in Reinforced Concrete Structures”, 1998.
 V.M. Malhotra and N.J. Carino, “Handbook on Non Destructive Testing of
Concrete” ,2nd edition .
 Mehta & Monteiro “Concrete : Microstructure, Properties And Materials 4th
Edition”, 4th edition.
 ASTM C876 “Standard Test Method for Half-Cell Potentials of Uncoated
Reinforcing Steel in Concrete”,1991 (Reapproved 1999).

Thank You ..

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