REINFORCEMENT CORROSION IN MARINE STRUCTURES

REINFORCEMENT CORROSION IN MARINE STRUCTURES

Reinforced concrete structures serving in marine environments with high concentration of chloride are prone to reinforcement corrosion. Well made, well cured and salt free concrete provides both chemical and physical protection to reinforcing steel by means of impermeable cover and protective films of oxides on steel surface. Damages to these protections can reduce the service life of marine concrete structures. REASONS FOR REINFORCEMENT CORROSION The main reasons for reinforcement corrosion are CARBONATION Carbon dioxide from air can react with the calcium hydroxide in concrete to form calcium carbonate. This process is called carbonation. Carbonation of concrete is a slow and continuous process progressing from the outer surface inward, but slows down with increasing diffusion depth. Carbonation has two effects: it increases mechanical strength of concrete, but it also decreases alkalinity, which is essential for corrosion prevention of the reinforcement steel. Below a pH of 10, the steel's thin layer of surface passivation dissolves and corrosion is promoted. CHLORIDES

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