The detrimental effects of chloride attack on the steel within reinforced concrete structures are well known, and a number of solutions are available for repair and rehabilitation where the process has resulted in significant deterioration of the structure. An effective method of extending the life of chloride contaminated structures is to electrochemically treat the steel using either a temporary (chloride extraction) or permanent (cathodic protection) process. Shifts in steel potential are accepted as a measure of effectiveness, but this work demonstrates a greater significance of other effects of electrochemical treatment. An analysis of the available data suggests that electrochemical treatments may modify the chemistry at the steel/concrete interface and this has beneficial effects on steel passivity. Electrochemical treatments are effective in increasing the chloride threshold level, and hence the time to initiation of chloride induced corrosion. This impacts on the remaining service life of a concrete structure.

Subject
Pits, Chloride threshold, Cathodic protection, Solids, Corrosion initiation, Acidity, Interfaces, Steel, Cement, Risk reduction, Chlorides, Voids, Concrete
Keywords:
cathodic protection, concrete, corrosion, criteria, chloride extraction, realkalisation, sacrificial anodes
© 2004 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).
2004
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
You do not currently have access to this content.