Materials and Design 31 (2010) 3358–3365

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Materials and Design

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Effect of ground granulate blast-furnace slag on corrosion performance of

steel embedded in concrete
_
Ilker Bekir Topçu, Ahmet Raif Boğa *
Eskisßehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Civil Engineering Department, 26480 Eskisßehir, Turkey

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Corrosion of steel in concrete is one of the major causes of premature deterioration of reinforced concrete
Received 5 November 2009 structures, leading to structural failure. To prevent the failure of concrete structures because of corrosion,
Accepted 30 January 2010 impermeable and high performance concretes should be produced various mineral admixtures. In this
Available online 6 February 2010
study, plain and reinforced concrete members are produced with mineral admixtures replacing cement.
Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) has replaced cement as mineral admixture at the ratios of
Keywords: 0%, 25% and 50%. The related tests have been conducted at the ages of 28 and 90, after exposing these
A. Concrete
produced plain and reinforced concrete members to two different curing conditions. The unit weight,
I. Corrosion
E. Mechanical
ultrasonic pulse velocity, splitting tensile and compressive strength tests are conducted on plain concrete
members. Half-cell potential and accelerated corrosion tests are also conducted on reinforced concrete
members. According to the test results, it is concluded that the curing age and type are important and
corrosion resistant concrete can be produced by using GGBFS mineral admixture at the ratio of 25%.
Ó 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Concrete and reinforced concrete are the most widely used con-
struction materials [1,2]. Corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete
has been recognized as a serious problem throughout the world
[3–5]. Reinforced concrete structures provide excellent service un-
der certain environmental conditions [2,6]. It is well known that
the high alkaline medium provided by the cement matrix in con-
crete maintains the steel bar in a passive state, where the corrosion
rate is significantly low due to the formation of a layer of iron oxide
on the surface of steel [7]. The corrosion of steel in concrete nor-
mally occurs as a result of either the reduction in alkalinity at
the steel, due to carbonation of concrete or leaching of alkalis, or
the presence of a significant quantity of chloride ions in the con-
crete [8]. The aggressive chloride ions can be originated either from
the use of contaminated mix ingredients in the mix and/or from
the surrounding environment in the hardened state [6]. Corrosion
of steel produces rust products, which have the volume of 3–8
times greater than an original metal. This generates the stress
causing cracking and spalling of the concrete cover, which further
accelerates corrosion [9]. A variety of chemical and mineral admix-
tures are used in practice to reduce corrosion activity, including
calcium nitrite (CN), silica fume (SF), fly ash (FA), and ground
granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS); other admixtures are avail-
able, but these four are the most commonly used [10–18].
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 222 239 3750x3118; fax: +90 222 239 3613.
E-mail address: ahmetrb@ogu.edu.tr (A.R. Boğa).
Many studies, using GGBFS, have been conducted in order to in-
crease the corrosion resistance of reinforcement embedded in con-
crete. Yeau and Kim [19] evaluated the corrosion resistance of two
types of Portland cement mixed with GGBFS varying from 0% to
55% and carried out permeability, diffusivity, surface area of corro-
sion on embedded steel and potential measurements and found
that the coefficient of permeability of Type I cement concrete
was lower than that of Type V cement concrete. The corrosion
probability of steel rebar in Type V cement concrete was higher
than that of steel rebar in Type I cement concrete. The results
showed that the corroded surface area (%) depends on the thick-
ness of the concrete cover, as well as the amount of GGBFS re-
placed. These results suggest that the resistance to steel
corrosion is better in Type I cement with higher amount of GGBFS
[20].
Jau and Tsay [21] evaluated the slag cement subjected to sea-
water corrosion by conducting various investigations such as
compressive strength, permeability, electrical resistance, concen-
tration of chloride ions corrosion potential and pore size distribu-
tion at various ages and concluded that slag concrete with 20–
30% substitution has best corrosion resistance properties [20].
Pal et al. [22] studied the corrosion behavior of embedded rein-
forcement under different proportions of slag. In this study corro-
sion of steel has been examined electrochemically and also by an
accelerated carbonation test. According to the test results, as the
slag content increases, the corrosion rate, weight loss, half-cell
potentials and the carbonation depth are found to be decreased
[20].

0261-3069/$ - see front matter Ó 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2010.01.057
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I.Bekir Topçu, A.R. Boğa / Materials and Design 31 (2010) 3358–3365 3359

In the work made by Luo et al. [23] in order to investigate the
chloride binding property and chloride diffusion of the GGBFS con-
crete, total and free chloride amounts, for five different depths as
0–10 mm, 10–20 mm, 20–30 mm, 30–40 mm and 40–50 mm, are
determined in the mortars produced with GGBFS having the fine-
ness of 4650 cm2/g. According to this study, the improvements
are seen in the porosity of ordinary Portland cement concrete pro-
duced with GGBFS and chloride diffusion coefficient decrease sig-
nificantly. It is also reported that chloride binding capacity
increases independently from both the chloride ingress through in-
side and outside.
In this study, plain and reinforced concrete members are pro-
duced with mineral admixtures replacing cement. Ground granu-
lated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) has replaced cement as mineral
admixture at the ratios of 0%, 25% and 50%. The related tests have
been conducted at the ages of 28 and 90, after exposing these pro-
duced plain and reinforced concrete members to two different cur-
ing conditions. The unit weight, ultrasonic pulse velocity, splitting
tensile and compressive strength tests are conducted on plain con-
crete members. Half-cell potential and accelerated corrosion tests
are also conducted on reinforced concrete members.
2. Experimental studies
2.1. Materials used
2.1.1. Cement
In experimental studies, the CEM I 42.5 R Portland cement
_
which is produced by ÇIMSA (Eskisßehir cement factory) at TS EN
197-1:2000 standard was used. The chemical, physical and
mechanical properties of this cement are given in Table 1.
2.1.2. Ground granulate blast-furnace slag
In experimental studies, ground granulate blast-furnace slag
which is produced by KARÇIMSA_ was used. The chemical and phys-
ical properties of this ground granulate blast-furnace slag are given
in Table 1.
2.1.3. Aggregates
Eskisßehir Osmaneli sand and Söğüt Zemzemiye crushed stone
aggregates were used. The maximum particle size of aggregates
is 31.5 mm. As a result of experiment, the specific gravities of sand,
crushed stone I and II are 2620, 2710 and 2710 and the unit
weights are 1550, 1720 and 1770 kg/m3, respectively. Sand,
crushed stones I and II are used 40%, 25% and 35%, respectively,
in mixture grain size distribution.
2.1.4. Water
Eskisßehir tap water was used in concrete production. This water
was proven to be suitable for using as mixing water based on a
chemical analysis of the water corresponding TS 1247 [24].
2.1.5. Steel reinforcements and NaCl solution
Fourteen millimeter diameter deformed steel reinforcement
was used for the preparation of reinforced concrete specimens to
attempt corrosion tests. According to TS 708 [25] the minimum
yield strength of this steel is 420 MPa and the minimum tensile
strength is 500 MPa. In experimental setup, for corrosion industrial
type of NaCl salt was used for obtaining solution.
2.2. Mix proportions of concrete
CEM I 42.5 R was used in concrete mixtures. By using 300 kg/m3
dosage cement, concrete specimens were produced reference spec-
imens and specimens contain 25% and 50% GGBFS. These speci-
mens were cured at two different periods as 28 and 90 days and
two different curing conditions. Thus 12 series of concrete mixture
were produced. The amounts of materials used in 1 m3 concrete
are given in Table 2.
2.3. Specimen preparation and testing
All produced specimens were demoulded after 24 h and ex-
posed to two different types of curing conditions until the related
tests have been conducted. In the first curing condition, the speci-
mens were kept under continuous air curing conditions till the
tests (uncontrolled relative humidity and temperatures media,
C1). In the second one, the specimens were kept under continuous
water curing conditions with 20 ± 2 °C temperature (standard
water curing, C2). The tests were conducted at the ages of 28 and
90 days.
2.3.1. Compressive test
Compressive strength test carried out for the dimensions of
150  150  150 mm cube specimens. Three specimens from each
mixture were tested for each of the parameters investigated for
different curing conditions (C1 and C2) and ages (28 and 90 days).

Table 1 2.3.2. Splitting-tensile test

Chemical and physical properties of cement and GGBFS. Splitting-tensile test was made on the concrete cylinder
Chemical composition, % CEM I 42.5 R GGBFS (/100  200 mm) specimens at the ages of 28 and 90 days. Three
specimens from each mixture were tested for each of the parame-
SiO2 19.31 39.41
Al2O3 5.17 11.63
ters investigated for different curing conditions and ages.
Fe2O3 2.51 3.35
CaO 62.93 36.56
MgO 2.08 5.52
2.3.3. Ultrasonic pulse velocity
Na2O 0.14 0.32 Ultrasonic pulse velocity test were made for the specimens,
K2O 0.58 1.21 which were prepared for the compressive tests.
SO3 3.00 –
Cl 0.008 0.014
Loss of ignition 3.60 0.71 Table 2
Insoluble residue 0.40 – Mix proportion of concrete for 1 m3.
Free lime 1.90 –
Mixture Cement Sand Crushed Crushed Water GGBFS
Physical properties
code stone I stone II
Specific gravity 3.15 2.88
Specific surface area, cm2/gr 3415 4320 Control 300 790 597 597 150 –
GGBFS-25 225 787 595 595 150 75
Compressive strength, MPa
GGBFS-50 150 785 593 593 150 150
2 days 25.1 –
28 days 52 – Superplasticiser (SP) was used 0.5% by weight of binder (cement + GGBFS).
3360 _
I.Bekir Topçu, A.R. Boğa / Materials and Design 31 (2010) 3358–3365
Fig. 1. Impressed voltage test setup.
_ where the measurement could be made for the half-cell potential.
+
Data
10 Ω
Logger
Power Supply
Reinforced
Concrete Specimen φ14 Steel Reinforcement
Plastic Dish
200 mm
Steel Plate Electrodes
20 mm
4 % NaCl Solution
100 mm
Fig. 2. Schematic drawing of impressed voltage test setup.
2.3.4. Impressed voltage test
The aim of impressed voltage tests was examining the corrosion
performance of reinforced concrete specimens. The impressed
voltage technique is an accelerated corrosion testing technique,
which indirectly gives information about the permeation charac-
teristics of the concrete. This test setup was formed from a DC
power source, a test specimen and a plastic dish containing 4%
NaCl solution and two steel plates and a data logger. Impressed
voltage test setup is shown in Fig. 1. Schematic drawing of corro-
sion setup is given in Fig. 2. The reinforced concrete specimens
for the accelerated corrosion tests were £100  200 mm cylinder
specimens in which a 14 mm diameter steel reinforcement was
centrally embedded. The 180 mm part of the steel reinforcement
was embedded into the concrete cylinder. These specimens were
cured at two different periods as 28 and 90 days and two different
curing conditions. The steel bar (working electrode) of the rein-
forced concrete specimen was connected to the positive terminal
and the steel plates (counter electrode) were connected to the neg-
ative terminal of a DC power source, which applies 20 V fixed
stress to the system. In this circuit, the steel bar was the anode,
the steel plates were the cathodes and the NaCl solution was the
electrolyte. Also, 10 other solution reservoirs were connected to
this test setup, so that 10 specimens were tested at the same time.
Moreover, in every 5 min, corrosion current of every reservoir
saved by a data logger and corrosion current–time figures were
drawn at the impressed voltage test system.
2.3.5. Half-cell potential test
The half-cell potential method was used in order to assess the
relative probability of the corrosion activity of reinforcement in
concrete by electrochemical means. The test was conducted in
High impedance voltmeter
Copper rod
Saturated copper sulphate
Connection to bar
Porous plug
Reinforced concrete φ 14 steel bar
specimen
Fig. 3. Schematic drawing of half-cell potential test setup.
accordance with ASTM C 876 [26]. In the test, a high impedance
voltmeter was connected between the reinforcing steel and a cop-
per–copper sulphate reference electrode on the concrete surface
The schematic view of the experimental set up is shown in Fig. 3.
The similar reinforced concrete specimens as in the impressed
voltage test were cast and cured initially for 28 days according to
the two different curing conditions (C1 and C2) before exposure
to the chloride solution. Then, test specimens were immersed in
4% NaCl solution tanks located in the laboratory at 20 ± 2 °C. The
corrosion progress of the steel reinforcement was monitored peri-
odically at the end of the chloride exposure period of 0, 28, 56,
90 days by using half-cell potential technique [27].
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Unit weight
The variation of unit weights versus GGBFS ratio is presented in
Fig. 4. As seen in Fig. 4, unit weights of all series decrease with the
increase in GGBFS ratio. It is seen that the unit weights of speci-
mens, kept under C2 curing, are higher than the ones kept under
C1 curing. Additional CSH gel is occurred due to C2 curing and
the pores in concrete are filled better. Thus, the unit weights of
specimens exposed to C2 curing increase. Furthermore, the in-
crease in unit weights with the increase in curing ages is seen in
Fig. 4.
3.2. Ultrasonic pulse velocity
The variations of ultrasonic pulse velocity versus GGBFS ratio
are shown in Fig. 5. When Fig. 5 is considered, it is seen that ultra-
2500
Unit weight, kg/m3
2400
C1(28)
C2(28)
C1(90)
C2(90)
2300
0 25 50
GGBFS, %
Fig. 4. The variation in concrete unit weights with respect to slag ratio.
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5.00 60
Ultrasonic pulse velocity, km/sn

C1(28) C1(28)

Compressive strength, MPa

C2(28) C2(28)
C1(90)
C2(90) C1(90)
C2(90)
4.80 50

4.60 40

4.40 30
0 25 50 0 25 50
GGBFS, % GGBFS, %
Fig. 5. The variation in concrete ultrasonic pulse velocities with respect to slag Fig. 7. The variation in concrete compressive strengths with respect to slag ratio.
ratio.

the ratios 21.32% and 34.21% compared to control series, respec-

sonic pulse velocities of series exposed to C2 curing increase with
the increase in GGBFS ratio. For the specimens exposed to C1 cur-
ing, while the ultrasonic pulse velocities are increasing by using
slag at the GGBFS ratio of 25%, they decrease in the specimens pro-
duced with 50% GGBFS. Additional CSH gel is occurred in the spec-
imens exposed to C2 curing due to the pozzolanic reaction. Thus,
the concrete becomes impermeable by filling of pores in concrete.
As seen from the ultrasonic pulse velocities, the concrete becomes
more impermeable in the series exposed to C2 curing with the
usage of GGBFS. In the series exposed to C1 curing, the pozzolanic
reaction has not occurred at the ratio of 50% due to the lack of
water in curing media. Therefore, concrete exposed to C1 curing
becomes more porous as seen from ultrasonic pulse velocities. It
is seen that ultrasonic pulse velocities of all series have increased
with the increase in curing ages. It is seen that the curing age is
also quite important from these results.
3.3. Splitting-tensile strength
The variations of splitting-tensile strength versus GGBFS ratio
are shown in Fig. 6. When Fig. 6 is considered, it is seen that split-
ting-tensile strengths of 25% GGBFS series, exposed to C2 curing
during 28 and 90 days, increase at the ratios 5.52% and 11.63%
compared to control series, respectively. Splitting-tensile strengths
of 50% GGBFS series decrease at the ratios of 3.31% and 12.70% for
28 and 90 days, respectively. Splitting-tensile strengths of 25% and
50% GGBFS series exposed to C1 curing during 28 days decrease at
4.5
Splitting-tensile strength, MPa
tively. Splitting-tensile strengths of these GGBFS series exposed
to C1 curing during 90 days decrease at the ratios 17.07 and
19.51 compared to control series, respectively. As seen from
Fig. 6, very significant differences between splitting-tensile
strengths reveal with respect to the curing method. Increases in
splitting-tensile strengths are seen by exposing to C2 curing while
splitting-tensile strengths are decreasing with the addition of
GGBFS exposed to C1 curing. In this way, it is concluded that C2
curing application is very important. Furthermore, it is also seen
that splitting-tensile strengths increase with the increase in curing
ages for both of curing methods.
3.4. Compressive strength
The variations of compressive strength versus GGBFS ratio are
shown in Fig. 7. When Fig. 7 is examined, the highest compressive
strength results have been obtained with the usage of 25% GGBFS
for both curing conditions. In the C1(28), C2(28), C1(90) and
C2(90) curing conditions, compressive strengths of 25% GGBFS ser-
ies increase at the ratios of 17.41%, 39.37%, 29.23% and 47.83%,
respectively. Likewise, compressive strengths of 50% GGBFS series
exposed to these curing conditions increase at the ratios 3.14%,
22.74%, 2.64% and 20.15% compared to control series, respectively.
As seen from the results, when GGBFS replaces cement at the ratio
of 50%, the compressive strength increment in series exposed to
C2(90) curing is as 20.15% and the increment in series exposed
C1(90) curing is as 2.64%. According to these results, it is observed
that the application of C2 curing method to the concrete produced
with pozzolans is very important.
It is also seen that compressive strengths increase with increase

in curing ages for both of curing methods. If the series exposed to

4.0
C2 curing are compared to each other, the compressive strengths of
the series, containing GGBFS at the ratios of 0%, 25% and 50%, in-
3.5
crease at the ratios of 5.22%, 11.60% and 3.00%, respectively, with
the increase in curing ages from 28 days to 90 days. The hydration
3.0
reactions takes place in a better way with the increase in curing
ages and the compressive strengths increase by occurring new
2.5
C1(28)
CSH gel.
C2(28) Güneyisi and Gesoğlu [28] have produced concrete specimens
2.0
C1(90) with slag replacing cement at the ratios between 50% and 80%
C2(90) and have exposed these specimens to the two different types of
1.5
curing conditions, as air and water curing, during 28 and 90 days.
0 25 50
Güneyisi and Gesoğlu [28] have presented similar results to this
GGBFS, %
study. In this manner, it can be said that increasing curing time
Fig. 6. The variation in concrete splitting-tensile strengths with respect to slag and exposing the concrete to water curing instead of air curing
ratio. increase the compressive strengths of the specimens. Likewise,
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Aldeaa et al. [29] have also reported that using slag as mineral 0.5

50% GGBFS (28)

admixture at the ratio of 25% increases the compressive

25% GGBFS (28)

Control (28)

50% GGBFS (90)

Corrosion current, A

25% GGBFS (90)

strengths. 0.4

Control (90)
0.3
3.5. Impressed voltage test
0.2
After the impressed voltage tests, steel in the reinforced con-
crete corroded and specimens are damaged. Damaged specimens 0.1
are shown in Fig. 8. Because of the volume of corrosion products
(rust) is 2.5–6 times bigger than the volume of the steel used in 0.0
concrete, these corrosion products make big tensile in the hard- 0 100 200 300 400 500
ened concrete. Over against the big tensile, hardened concrete Time, h
cracks and splits off [30–33].
Immediate increments in corrosion currents are observed dur- Fig. 9. The change in corrosion currents of specimens exposed to C1 curing with
respect to time.
ing the moment of this deterioration in concrete. Time-dependent
change in corrosion currents and immediate current increments
due to corrosion deterioration is shown below in the time-depen-
0.5
dent corrosion current figures (Figs. 9 and 10).

50% GGBFS (28)

25% GGBFS (28)

50% GGBFS (90)

Corrosion current, A
The corrosion currents of specimens exposed to C1 curing with

25% GGBFS (90)

Control (90)
0.4

respect to time are presented in Fig. 9. If the Fig. 9 is evaluated, it is
noticed that corrosion currents decrease with the usage of GGBFS
at the ratio of 25% in the series exposed to C1 curing during 28
and 90 days and the deterioration occurrence times extend.
As seen from Fig. 9, the deterioration occurrence times shorten
and corrosion currents increase with the usage of 50% GGBFS for
the series exposed to C1 curing during 28 days. The pozzolanic
reaction cannot completely take place for the usage of GGBFS at
the ratio of 50% for the series exposed to C1 curing during 28 days
and the concrete becomes permeable. Cl ions quickly enter into
the reinforcements embedded in these permeable concretes and
thus, the deterioration occurrence times have shortened in the ser-
ies produced with 50% GGBFS.
When Fig. 9 is considered, it is seen that deterioration occur-
rence times extend with the increase in curing ages. It is concluded
that hydration reactions completely take place with increasing
ages, the concrete becomes more impermeable with elapsed time
and thus, deterioration occurrence times extend.
Fig. 8. The view of the deteriorated specimens.
Control (28)
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Time, h
Fig. 10. The change in corrosion currents of specimens exposed to C2 curing with
respect to time.
In Fig. 10, the corrosion currents of the series exposed to C2 cur-
ing are shown. When Fig. 10 is discussed, the deterioration occur-
rence times in specimens extend for C2 curing with the increase in
curing ages like C1 curing. As seen from Fig. 10, in the series ex-
posed to C2 curing, corrosion currents decrease and the deteriora-
tion occurrence times extend when 25% GGBFS is used. When Figs.
9 and 10 are compared to each other, better results are obtained
from the series exposed to C2 curing. Thus, it is revealed that water
curing is an important issue in order to obtain corrosion resistance.
In Fig. 11, the variation of deterioration occurrence times versus
GGBFS ratio are given. When Fig. 11 is considered, the deteriora-
tion occurrence times of specimens containing 0%, 25% and 50%
GGBFS increase at the ratios of 41%, 47% and 66% with the increase
in curing ages of the series exposed to C1 curing, respectively. The
deterioration occurrence times of series exposed to C2 curing also
increase with the increase in curing ages. The increments are as
49% for the series containing 0% GGBFS, as 43% and 39% for the ser-
ies containing 25% and 50% GGBFS, respectively. It is seen that
increasing curing ages is quite beneficial.
In Fig. 11, the deterioration occurrence times of series exposed
to C2 curing instead of C1 curing during the same ages extend. For
instance, when the series containing 25% GGBFS are considered,
the deterioration occurrence times extend at the ratios of 22%
and 18%, respectively, with the application of C2 curing to series
during 28 and 90 days. It is also seen that C2 curing method appli-
cation to concrete is quite beneficial.
As seen from Fig. 11, the longest deterioration occurrence times
have been obtained from the usage of 25% GGBFS for both curing
conditions. In the specimens kept under C1(28), C2(28), C1(90)
and C2(90), the deterioration occurrence times have increased at
the ratios of 11%, 23%, 15% and 18%, respectively, compared to
the control series with usage of 25% GGBFS. The deterioration
 _
I.Bekir Topçu, A.R. Boğa / Materials and Design 31 (2010) 3358–3365 3363

600 ones. According to the obtained results, it is clear that there is an

Deterioration occurrence time, h
C1(28) 530 important relationship between the initial corrosion currents and
C2(28)
500 478 the deterioration occurrence times.
C1(90) 450 447
C2(90) 408 When the series containing 0%, 25% and 50% GGBFS in Fig. 12
388
400 371 are evaluated, it is seen that the initial corrosion currents decrease
343
301 305 with the application of C2 curing instead of C1 curing for both cur-
300 275 ing ages. In this manner, it can be also reported again that C2 cur-
246
ing application is quite important for obtaining corrosion
200 resistance.

100
0
0 25
GGBFS, %
Fig. 11. The change in deterioration occurrence times with respect to slag ratio.
occurrence times of all series, except the C1(28) one, extend with
the usage of 50% GGBFS compared to control series. While deteri-
oration occurrence times are decreasing, with the 50% GGBFS
replacing cement, at the ratio of 11% compared to control series,
the ones of C2(28), C1(90) and C2(90) increase at the ratios of
14%, 5% and 6%, respectively. As seen from the results, using 25%
GGBFS is quite enough to obtain corrosion resistance.
Güneyisi and Gesoğlu [28] have obtained similar results to this
study that the amount of slag replacing cement, increasing curing
time and exposing to water curing increase the deterioration
occurrence times.
In Fig. 12, the variation of initial corrosion current with respect
to slag ratio is shown. As seen from Fig. 12, the initial corrosion
currents increase with the increase in GGBFS ratio in the series ex-
posed to C1 and C2 curing during 28 days. In the series produced
with GGBFS, pozzolanic reactions have not completely taken place
in 28 days. Therefore, concrete produced with GGBFS mineral
admixture have become more permeable. The increases in initial
corrosion currents have been observed due to the permeable struc-
ture of concrete. When Fig. 12 is considered, the initial corrosion
currents decrease with increase in the GGBFS ratio for both C1
and C2 curing during 90 days. It can be said that the pozzolanic
3.6. Half-cell potential test
50 In Fig. 13, the variation of half-cell potentials of series with
GGBFS after exposing to different curing conditions is presented
with respect to time. ASTM C 876 limit values were given in Table
3 [26,27]. When Fig. 13 is considered, the half-cell potentials of ser-
ies with 25% GGBFS exposed to C2 curing have remained under
uncertain area at the end of 90 days and they have not passed
through the area in which possible corrosion is available. However,
all of the other series have passed trough the area in which corro-
sion is possible. According to the half-cell potentials seen in Fig. 13,
it is observed that C2 curing application is more important than C1
curing application. The pozzolanic reactions have not completely
taken place in the series containing 50% GGBFS due to water curing
conditions during 28 days before exposing to NaCl solutions. As a
result of this, the corrosion possibilities in produced specimens
have increased because of being more permeable.
According to the test results, it is seen that corrosion potentials
do not pass through the area in which possible corrosion is avail-
able with the increase in slag amount similar to the Yeau and Kim’s
[19] study. Besides, Cheng et al. [34] have also mentioned in their
paper that using high amounts of GGBFS decreases the corrosion
rate. Jau and Tsay [21] have replaced slag by cement at the ratios
of 0–50% and the 10–30% replacement ratios are found to have
higher corrosion potential, or higher resistance to corrosion like
the results obtained in this study.
0
Half cell potential (CSE), mV

90% probability of no corrosion

reaction can mostly take place with the increase in curing ages, -100
the concrete becomes more impermeable and the initial corrosion
-200
currents decrease.
The highest initial corrosion currents were obtained from the -300
series containing 50% GGBFS and exposed to C1(28) curing condi- -400
tions. If Figs. 11 and 12 are evaluated together, it is seen that
-500
C1(28) series, which have higher initial corrosion currents, are also
90% probability of corrosion
the ones whose the deterioration occurrence times are the lowest -600
C1(0% GGBFC) C1(25% GGBFC) C1(50% GGBFC)
-700
C2(0% GGBFC) C2(25% GGBFC) C2(50% GGBFC)

250 -800
Initial corrosion current, mA

C1(28)
0 28 56 90
212
C2(28) Time of immersion in NaCl solution, days
200
C1(90) Fig. 13. The change in half-cell potentials of GGBFS series with respect to time after
C2(90) exposing to different curing conditions.
150

98
100
76
64
51
42
50 28 Table 3
25 19 21
16 11 ASTM C 876 limit values.

0 Half-cell potential (CSE), mV Probability of the presence of active corrosion

0 25 50 > 200 The probability for corrosion is very low
GGBFS, % 200 to 350 Uncertain
< 350 The probability for corrosion is very high
Fig. 12. The change in initial corrosion currents with respect to slag ratio.
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I.Bekir Topçu, A.R. Boğa / Materials and Design 31 (2010) 3358–3365
When the experimental results are considered, it is observed
that the deterioration occurrence times extend with the exposure
of C2 curing instead of C1 conditions, the increase in the GGBFS
amount replacing cement and the increase in curing time. Fur-
thermore, another factor causing to the extending in occurrence
times is also the chloride binding of GGBFS. In other words, be-
cause of low chloride ion permeability and binding of chloride
ions, deterioration occurrence times are extended. When chloride
ion from environmental solutions penetrates into the concrete,
some of them are captured by the hydration products. This is
called chloride binding. On the other hand, it is known from the
previous studies that the pozzolans such as FA, GGBFS, and silica
fume bind chloride ions, thus, the permeability of concrete de-
creases [35]. Many researchers have shown that partial substitu-
tion of cement with GGBFS increases the chloride binding in the
case of external chlorides. The increase in chloride binding due
to the replacement of GGBFS was also observed in the case of
internal chloride [7]. Consequently, deterioration occurrence
times extended the initial corrosion currents and the half-cell po-
tential values decreased with the chloride binding reactions of
GGBFS.
4. Conclusions
According to the test results, the mechanical properties of con-
crete and the corrosion performances of reinforcements in con-
crete have changed in different ways depending on curing type,
GGBFS ratio replacing cement and the curing ages of specimens.
 The unit weights of all series have decreased with the increase in
GGBFS ratio. It is observed that the unit weights of the speci-
mens exposed to C2 curing are higher than those of exposed
to C1 curing. It is seen that the unit weights increase with the
increase in curing ages.
 It is seen that ultrasonic pulse velocities of the specimens
exposed to C2 curing has increased with the increase in GGBFS
ratio. It is also noticed that ultrasonic pulse velocities of all ser-
ies increase with the increase in curing ages.
 When 25% GGBFS is used in concrete, the splitting-tensile
strengths of specimens exposed to C2 curing during 28 or
90 days increase. It is also seen that the splitting-tensile
strengths increase with the increase in curing ages for both cur-
ing methods.
 The highest compressive strengths have been obtained in series
containing 25% GGBFS for both curing conditions. It is observed
that the compressive strengths increase with the increase in cur-
ing ages for both curing methods.
 The longest deterioration occurrence times have been obtained
in series containing GGBFS at the ratio of 25% for both curing
conditions. It is concluded that the deterioration occurrence
times of specimens, exposed to C1 and C2 curing conditions,
extend with the increase in curing ages. In the series exposed
to C2 curing, if 25% GGBFS is used in concrete, corrosion currents
decrease and the deterioration occurrence times extend.
 The initial corrosion currents of the series exposed to C1 and C2
curing during 28 days increase with the increase in GGBFS ratio.
When the series are exposed to C1 and C2 curing during 90 days,
the initial corrosion currents decrease with the increase in
GGBFS ratio. It is also seen that the initial corrosion currents
decrease by using C2 curing instead of C1 curing.
 The half-cell potentials of series with 25% GGBFS exposed to C2
curing have remained under uncertain area at the end of 90 days
and they have not passed trough the area where corrosion is
possible. However, all of the other series have passed trough
the area where corrosion is available.
According to the conclusions above, the usage of GGBFS at the
ratio of 25% to replace cement in concrete production and exposing
concrete to C2 curing during 90 days significantly improve the cor-
rosion resistance of the reinforcement in concrete.
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