Journal of Materials Science and Engineering with Advanced TechnologyAuthor's: PAULO S. D. BRITO
Pages: [1] - [26]
Received Date: June 3, 2013
Submitted by:
The main objective of this study is to monitor the evolution of ionic
conductivity within the recovering layer of reinforced concrete
structures by electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE) during
treatment operations. The ECE process consists in the application of a
direct electrical field between the reinforcement grid, inside the
concrete, and an external metallic mesh to promote the migration of
chloride anions away from the concrete. Since chloride anions are the
main single ions responsible for the reinforced concrete structure
corrosion and degradation, ECE is an obvious advantage in terms of
concrete structure renovations that are subjected to maritime
conditions and in the early stages of concrete contamination, this is
a degradation process that is common in coastal areas.
Laboratory tests were made using concrete prisms contaminated with
chloride ions in contact with a saturated calcium hydroxide solution.
The extraction process was followed by measuring the ionic
conductivity using the two pins technique. Two stainless steel rods
embedded in the concrete prism were used as pins.
Variations of ionic conductivity with the depth in concrete covering
layer are discussed and it is shown that this procedure can be used as
a monitoring technique based on the ECE process.
electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE), process monitoring, concrete conductivity, concrete corrosion.
