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Corro Stel

The document discusses corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete due to carbonation. It explains that carbonation lowers the pH of concrete, removing the alkaline protection of the steel and allowing corrosion to occur. Specifically: 1) The high alkalinity of concrete normally protects embedded steel from corrosion. 2) Carbonation is a reaction where carbon dioxide lowers the pH by forming calcium carbonate, reducing alkalinity below a threshold of around 9.5-9.6. 3) Once the pH drops below this level due to carbonation penetrating the concrete cover, the steel loses its protective passivation layer and begins to corrode.

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Anurag Bagade
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65 views2 pages

Corro Stel

The document discusses corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete due to carbonation. It explains that carbonation lowers the pH of concrete, removing the alkaline protection of the steel and allowing corrosion to occur. Specifically: 1) The high alkalinity of concrete normally protects embedded steel from corrosion. 2) Carbonation is a reaction where carbon dioxide lowers the pH by forming calcium carbonate, reducing alkalinity below a threshold of around 9.5-9.6. 3) Once the pH drops below this level due to carbonation penetrating the concrete cover, the steel loses its protective passivation layer and begins to corrode.

Uploaded by

Anurag Bagade
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Corrosion

Corrosion of reinforcement is one of the main durability problems of concrete structures. Most of the corrosion is induced by two main factors: the carbonation of the concrete cover and the penetration of chlorides providing from marine atmosphere or from chemicals in contact with concrete. Carbonation generally aims into uniform corrosion of the steel bar while chlorides mainly induce localised corrosion. Both types of corrosion are of electrochemical nature.

1.1 Corrosion of Steel in Concrete due to Carbonation


The high alkalinity of cement paste, approx. pH 13, passivation of the steel surface and protects it against oxidation (corrosion). The presence of chlorides, carbonation, acid attack or combination of all these, reduce pH of concrete and the reinforcing steel starts to corrode. The Figure 1 shows the pH scale and divides it into three areas according to steel corrosion occurrence. The high alkalinity of cement paste is primarily due to the high calcium hydroxide content (lime) the product of cement hydration as schematically shown in equation 1. Calcium silicate compounds (CS) contained in Portland cement, when mixed with water react and form hydrated calcium silicates (CSH) and Calcium Hydroxide (lime). Lime and other oxides of alkali earth elements, such Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) create the highly alkaline environment of fresh or young concrete. CS + H CSH + Calcium Hydroxide (lime) ------------------- [1]

As concrete ages, lime reacts with the atmospheric carbon dioxide as shown in Equation 2. Ca(OH)2 + CO2 CaCO3 + H2O ------------------------------- [2]

This reaction "neutralizes" concrete and pH of concrete decreases. At pH level below 10 (approx. pH 9.5-9.6) the passive protection of the steel surface due to the alkalinity of cement paste disappears and steel starts to corrode.

14

14 13

No corrosion, passivation

12.6 Calcium Hydroxide 12 11 10 9.5 9 8 8 Calcium Carbonate Carbonation

passivity decreases, corrosion start

7 6 5.5 5 4 3

Rapid and heavy corrosion


2 1

Figure :- (1 pH Scale) Carbonation :- Carbon-dioxide gas present in the atmosphere combines with hydrated concrete (alkaline hydroxides) and partly neutralize the alkaline nature of concrete. This process is known as Carbonation. Carbonation brings down the pH value of concrete from above 12-13 to less than 9. When depth of carbonation Increases and becomes equal or more than the depth of cover of reinforcement, it breaks down passive film surrounding steel and make steel embedded in concrete active. Carbonation damage occurs rapidly when there is insufficient concrete cover over the reinforcing steel. Carbonation can occur even when the concrete cover to the reinforcing steel is high. This may be due to a porous structure where pores are well connected together and allow rapid carbon-dioxide ingress. It can also happen when alkaline reserves in the pores are low. These problems occur due to a low cement content, high water cement ratio, poor compaction and inadequate curing of concrete.

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