PERFORMANCE OF BLENDED CORROSION INHIBITORS FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE

Sabih Akhtar

Abstract: Use of chemical corrosion inhibitors has been recognized as one of the effective way of controlling rebar corrosion in reinforced cement concrete (RCC). Corrosion inhibiting admixtures fall into the specialty admixture category and are used to slow down corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete. The addition of corrosion inhibitors to the mix, offers a viable corrosion protection measure. There are generally three groups of inhibitors: anodic, cathodic and mixed inhibitors. The effect of these chemicals on various physical properties of cement such as setting time, pH, and compressive strength needs to be explored before use. In the present investigation an attempt has been made to mix two commercially available corrosion inhibitors and evaluate its effect on setting time, pH and compressive strength. In the next part of the study electrochemical test involving the blended chemical corrosion inhibitor were also conducted on RCC slab specimen. Corrosion kinematic parameters have been estimated using potentio-dynamic polarization tests. It has been observed that the corrosion inhibitor does not have any adverse effect on physical properties of cement and cement concrete. The low corrosion current density exhibited by the inhibitor proves their potential in controlling corrosion initiation and propagation.

Keywords: Corrosion inhibitors, setting time, compressive strength, corrosion kinematic parameters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0310008