The aim of this research is to assess the corrosion performance of galvanized reinforcing bars in concrete elements exposed to natural tropical marine environment in the Mexican Caribbean, using limestone aggregates and ordinary Portland cement (OPC).

Reinforced prisms of concrete with water to cement (w/c) ratios of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7 were half-immersed in seawater at a seashore site in the Yucatan Peninsula (Sisal). Corrosion was monitored by corrosion potential and linear polarization resistance measurements. The chloride penetration in the concrete was also measured.

Corrosion data showed that, after 693 days of exposure, the corrosion current density values of the zinc-coated bars were, 0.1, 0.08, 0.14; and 0.19 μA/cm2, in (w/c) ratios of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7, respectively. The corresponding current densities for black steel were, 0.09, 0.18, 0.32, and 0.52 μA/cm2. These corrosion current densities correspond to a zinc coating thickness loss of 1.2 μm/y to 2.85 μm/y. The corrosion rate of black steel was between 1 μm/y and 6 μm/y.

Subject
Marine environments, Water, Materials, Black steel, Corrosion currents, Corrosion rate, Rebar, Density, Galvanized steel, Cement, Chlorides, Corrosion potential, Concrete
Keywords:
Caribbean, marine corrosion, galvanized steel, black steel, reinforced concrete, natural weathering
© 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)
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