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Electrochemical investigations of steels in seawater sea sand concrete environments

Xiang Yu, Saad Al-Saadi, Xiao-Ling Zhao, R. K.Singh Raman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Seawater and sea sand concrete (SWSSC) is an environmentally friendly alternative to ordinary Portland cement concrete for civil construction. However, the detrimental effect of high chloride content of SWSSC on the corrosion resistance of steel reinforcement is a concern. This study undertook the electrochemical corrosion behaviour and surface characterizations of a mild steel and two stainless steels (AISI type 304 and 316) in various simulated concrete environments, including the alkaline + chloride environment (i.e., SWSSC). Open circuit potential (OCP), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed. Though chloride is detrimental to the corrosion resistance of mild steels, a simultaneous presence of high alkalinity in SWSSC negate the detrimental effect of chloride. In the case of stainless steels, a high level of alkalinity is found to be detrimental, whereas chloride seems to have less detrimental effect on their corrosion resistance.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5713
Number of pages20
JournalMaterials
Volume14
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Sept 2021

Keywords

  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)
  • Open circuit potential (OCP)
  • Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP)
  • Seawater and sea sand concrete (SWSSC)

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