The corrosion of steel embedded in concrete is a well-known, world-wide phenomenon. Over the past 30 years, the chloride ion has been identified as the major agent associated with the depassivation, and consequent corrosion, of the embedded steel. One form of mass transfer associated with the movement of chloride ions in concrete is diffusion. In this study, chloride ion diffusion rates in cementitious paste have been determined using a modification to the "standard" diffusion cell. Ordinary Portland cement samples of varying water/cement ratios were investigated together with similar materials to which varying amounts of pyrolysed scrap polymer had been added. The results from the present study are compared with previously published data and their relevance to the chloride-induced corrosion of embedded steel is discussed.

Subject
Steel structures, Water, Materials, Electrochemical cells, Chloride ion concentration, Diffusion, Thickness measurement, Chloride ions, Pastes, Steel, Cement, Chlorides, Concrete
Keywords:
concrete, reinforcement, corrosion, chloride diffusion, pyrolyzed polymer, pozzolans
© 1994 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1994
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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