See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/275211789

THE INFLUENCE OF CHLORIDE CONTENTS IN SANDS ON REINFORCEMENT

CORROSION

Article · January 2013

CITATION READS

1 1,299

7 authors, including:

Kaoutar Bazzar Youssef Lemsouguer

Abdelmalek Essaâdi University Abdelmalek Essaâdi University
6 PUBLICATIONS   9 CITATIONS    1 PUBLICATION   1 CITATION   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Adil Hafidi Alaoui

Abdelmalek Essaâdi University
64 PUBLICATIONS   847 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Estimation of peak discharge in a poorly gauged catchment based on a specified hyetograph model and geomorphological parameters: Case study for the 23-24
October 2008 flood, Kalaya basin, Tangier, Morocco View project

Design of a Safety Management Model adapted to Moroccan construction sites, factors of performance and opportunities for improvement: Case of work at height View
project

All content following this page was uploaded by Youssef Lemsouguer on 20 April 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Journal of Environmental Solutions Volume 2 (Issue 1) (2013): 9-15

Journal of Environmental Solutions

Averroes Publisher

THE INFLUENCE OF CHLORIDE CONTENTS IN SANDS ON REINFORCEMENT CORROSION

BOUATIAOUI MOHAMMED RACHID1; BAZZAR KAOUTAR1; KAHLOUN ABDELLATIF1; LEMSOUGUER YOUSSEF1; HAFIDI ALAOUI ADIL1

1 Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier, Morocco

* Corresponding author: Bouataoui Mohammed Rachid

E mail: ingenieurrachid@yahoo.fr
Tél: +212 661 545 914

ABSTRACT

Keywords: The effect of chlorides in cylindrical reinforced mortars based on ordinary Portland cement and different types
durability of sand has been investigated with the corrosion behavior of the steel rebar. Corrosion initiation of steel was
corrosion evaluated through nondestructive electrochemical measurements (half cell potential) versus time of different
sand exposure: with accelerated impressed current technique and natural exposure in the laboratory. The transition
chloride from passive to active corrosion was studied considering a potential drop. The results show that despite some
cracking
types of sand have admissible levels of chlorides according to the standards, corrosion appeared after a certain
time.

I. INTRODUCTION

Concrete is now the building material mostly used all over the world. It evolves over time and eventually deteriorates. According to
changing needs, each structure has a desired life service or "durability", for example between 50 and 100 years (Eurocode1, 1996),
during which the building must not only be stable, but also provides constant use comfort. The main factor influencing the durability
of concrete reinforcement is corrosion. In fact, corrosion is induced by the presence of chloride ions which is a major cause of prema-
ture deterioration of reinforced concrete structures (Richardson, 2002). The structures affected by corrosion usually occur in two
distinct stages: either in the initiation of the reaction or its propagation (Tuuti, 1982). The initiation of corrosion occurs when the
concentration of chloride ions near the reinforcements attained a critical threshold (Dreux & Festa, 1998). Then, the propagation of
corrosion leads to cracking of concrete and ruin it. The corrosion process is very complex and involves many mechanisms which are
highly dependent ways of implementation and quality of the constituents of concrete: cement type, water quality and nature of ag-
gregates. In fact, especially sands are 1/4 of the weight percentage of the concrete. Hence the importance of the quality of these ma-
terials that may influence the durability of the structure.
In Morocco, the increase in construction activity resulted in high consumption of construction materials: cement, aggregates and
sand. For example, according to the Ministry of Equipment, the estimation of production of sand for construction in 2007 was around
18 million m3/year (approximately € 1.8 million) (Martin, 2010). In 2011, a cubic meter of sand is twice the normal price.
This study focuses on the massive use of sand extracted from marine sand mines due to the low cost, questioning about its chloride
content and the influence on the durability of structures already built. A survey has been carried out in different buildings sites and
concrete plants on the different types of sand used and their sources. The results reveal that all sites use four types of sand: dredging
sand, crushed sand and two types of sea sands. None of these sands are washed, sift, or corrected.
The aim of this study is to determine the incubation time of corrosion on mortars made from these sands. To achieve this objective,
the technique of impressed current was used to reduce the testing time and to accelerate the corrosion process (Caré & Raharinaivo,
2007; El Maaddawy & Soudki, 2003; Sakr, 2005; Soleymani & Ismail, 2004).

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

II.1 Sand characterization

Each provider of concrete uses a type of sand. The four types of sand used are taken from various construction sites. The sea and
dredging sands are from marine origin with high silica content, while the manufactured sand is produced by crushing rock dolomite
limestone Triassic-Lias.
The sand quality is determined by its size, its cleanliness and its chloride content. The grading curve of the sand is determined by the
Moroccan standard NM 10.1.700 (2008). The sand property is carried out by a sand equivalent test conform to the Moroccan stand-
ard NM10.1.283 (2008). Table 1 summarizes the main results of the analyses for the sands used in this study.

9
 Bouataoui et al.

Table 1. The main results of the sand analysis: size, cleanliness, fineness modulus and the chloride content.
Fineness Sand Equivalent Chloridea
Nature Granular class mm Fine content %
modulus ES % %
Sea sand A 0/1.25 2.1 1.58 81 0.83
Dredging sand 0/0.63 3.0 0.97 65 0.5
Sea sand B 0/1.25 5.5 1.51 30 0.2
Crushed sand 0/5 10.6 3.69 71 0.01
Note. a Total chloride content by cement weight

The chloride content in concrete must be less than 1% for ordinary, non-reinforced concrete and 0.2% for reinforced and pre-
stressed concrete (Moroccan standards, 2008; Norme Française EN 206-1, 2004). The chloride content of the elaborated mortars in
this study is equivalent to that of the used sand. In fact, the cement CPJ 45 has been used, exempted from the chloride and distilled
water for making samples. The chloride content is determined by acid-base assay. The chloride content is expressed relative to the
cement mass in order to compare the data with the values set by the Moroccan standard NM 10.1.008 (2008) (table 2 and 3).

Table 2. The mass ratios of standard oxides in cement CPJ 45

Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P2O5 SO2 K2O CaO TiO2 Fe2O3
0.3 1.4 3.8 18.1 0 4.3 1.2 67.6 0.3 3

Table 3. The mass ratios in elementary standardized cement CPJ 45

C O Na Mg Al Si P S K Ca Ti
14.5 44.5 0.1 0.5 1.3 5.3 0.0 1.3 0.6 30.5 0.1

II.2 Mortar samples

The mortar samples were made with cement (c), distilled water (w) and different type of sand (s) with W/C = 0.5 and C/S = 0.3. The
composition is shown in table 4. After mixing, the fresh mortar was casted into a cylindrical mould (70 mm in diameter and 100 mm
high) where the reinforcements were previously placed along its longitudinal axis; a steel bar of 8 mm diameter and 100 mm length
and a stainless bar of 4 mm diameter and 100 mm length (figure 1). These bars play the role of reinforcement and also close the
electrical circuit (Fang et al, 2004).
The steel bar is polished with abrasive paper and rinsed with distilled water. The extremities of the bars (steel and stainless) are
protected by an electric insulator for the corrosion to be localized on the defined surface (length 60 mm, figure 1). The samples are
compacted for one minute by using a vibrating table, and left to stand for 24 hours.
Stainless steel bar as counter electrode

10mm
Steel

60mm

10mm 38mm 10mm

10mm

20mm
70mm

Figure 1. Test sample

Table 4. Composition of the four types of mortar

Sample 1-6 Sample 7-12 Sample13-18 Sample 19-24
Distilled water (g) 300 300 300 300
Cement (g) 600 600 600 600
Sea sand A (gd) 1800 - - -
Dredging sand (g) - 1800 - -
Sea sand B (g) - - 1800 -
Crushed sand (g) - - - 1800

Journal of Environmental Solutions Volume 2 (Issue 1) (2013): 9-15 10

 Bouataoui et al.

After hardening, all samples were conserved for 28 days at room temperature, in 100% relative humidity (RH). After that period, the
samples were divided in two sets, composed of 3 samples for each type of sand. One set remained under the natural conditions of the
laboratory. To accelerate corrosion process, the second set was subject to the application of impressed current as described in litera-
ture (Caré & Raharinaivo, 2007).

II.3 Corrosion acceleration

One of the electrochemical methods that can be used for detection of reinforcement corrosion is measuring the potential on the
concrete surface by using a reference electrode "Half-cell" (Elsener et al., 2003). This method determines the risks of depassivation
of reinforcement steel in concrete. Generally, the corrosion takes place when the potential is between -350 mV and -600 mVCSE
(ASTM standard C876–09, 2009).
In this study, the current is applied to three samples connected in parallel and is associated with a generator (figure 2). A constant
current density of 100 μA/cm2 is imposed between the steel and stainless bars, with the steel bar as counter electrode. This density
is often chosen in this type of tests to accelerate corrosion to dissimulate reality (Caré & Raharinaivo, 2007). It corresponds to the
highest corrosion rates recorded in existing reinforced concrete structures (Andrade et al., 1993). The potential is measured be-
tween the reinforcement and the mortar surface.
After applying the current for 30 minutes, the polarization is stopped. The samples are disconnected and the measure of potential is
taken after approximately 15 min. The initiation of corrosion is evaluated by using the electrode Half-cell potential. After the poten-
tial measurement, the samples are connected again and the second cycle starts (application of current - potential measurement).
The other set of three samples are left in the laboratory without current application. The state of the steel is monitored by measure-
ment of the potential for three years. The corrosion potentials were measured at periodic intervals using a high-impedance voltme-
ter and a copper sulfate electrode (CSE).

Electron flow

A1
Steel bar Stainless steel bar
as counter electrode
A2

A3

A4

v
Figure 2. Scheme of the experimental set-up

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results represented below are an average of three measurements.

III.1. Sea sand A with high chloride content

Figure 5 shows the variation of half-cell potential versus time measured on the mortar made with sea sand A with high chloride
content. Following the application of 100μA/cm2 current on the samples, the potential decreased from -427 mV at t0 until reaching -
555 mV after 90 min. This potential drop indicates the presence of corrosion, according to ASTM standard C876-91 (1999) criteria
for corrosion conditions predict a high (90 %) risk of corrosion. Current was continued to be implement until cracking of the mortar
occurred after 30 hours (figure 3). At the end of the test, the mortar sample was crushed by splitting to observe the state of the inter-
face between steel and mortar (figure 4). This confirms that corrosion of the steel reinforcing caused the cracking because corrosion
rating is based on visible corrosion on the surface of the rebar (Naish et al, 1990). For the same chloride content, another researcher
observed the potential drop for a period between 25-30 days but in an acceleration carbonation chamber (Dias et al, 2008).

Figure 3. Cracking of the mortar Figure 4. Corrosion of the steel reinforcing

Journal of Environmental Solutions Volume 2 (Issue 1) (2013): 9-15 11

 Bouataoui et al.

Figure 5. Potential measuring on sample made with sea sand A under application of current

The samples remained in the laboratory without current application show the same potential evolution although it is delayed in time
the potential drop takes about 100 days (figure 6) with no cracking visible even after 3 years. In "reinforced concrete", consisting of
concrete and steel reinforcement, the high alkalinity of the cement allows the formation of a passivation layer that protects the steel
against corrosion. However, the strong presence of chlorides leads to rupture of the passivation layer and thereby initiates rein-
forcement corrosion by sting.
Potential (mV)

0 200 400 600 800 1000

0
Time (days)
-100
WITHOUT CURRENT
-200

-300

-400

-500

-600
Figure 6. Potential measuring on sample made with sea sand A without application of current

III.2 Dredged sand

The dredged sand has a chlorine content of 0.5 %. The monitoring of the potential with application of current shows a decrease in
the potential (figure 7). It reaches -415 mV after 3 hours. After this drop, the potential is stabilized at about -500 mV. It can be de-
duced that corrosion is initiated from that moment.

400
Potential(mV)
WITH CURRENT
200

Time (min)
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

-200

-400

-600
Figure 7. Potential measuring on sample made with dredging sand with application of current

On the other hand, the samples in normal aging retained a potential close to zero for three months (figure 8). After this time, the
potential dropped sharply to a value of about -400 mV. This reveals corrosion is initiated at that moment. From that moment on the
potential value remained stable. Corrosion of the steel is confirmed by visual observation of the sample crushed by splitting.

Journal of Environmental Solutions Volume 2 (Issue 1) (2013): 9-15 12

 Bouataoui et al.

600

400 WITHOUT CURRENT

200

Potential (mV)
3 months Time (days)
0
0 100 200 300 400
-200

-400

-600
Figure 8. Potential measuring on sample made with dredging sand without application of current

III.3 Sea sand B

Sea sand B has a chloride content of about 0.2 %, qualified under the morocco standard NM 10.1.008 (2009). Following the applica-
tion of current on the samples made with this sand, the measured potential is positive. After 12 days, there was a potential drop from
400mV to -400 mV where the onset of corrosion. The effect impressed current and mortar chloride content has been reported by
other investigators (Caré & Raharinaivo, 2007) but with chlorides coming from outside the sample, showing the same shape of the
curve.
It can be said that corrosion was delayed despite a low chloride content. As a result, the potential is stabilized at about -500 mV (fig-
ure 9). The samples without application of current show a slight increase in the potential at the start, and the potential is stabilized at
a positive value for 3 years (figure 10).

Figure 9. Potential measuring on samples made with sea sand B with application of current

600
Potential (mV)

WITHOUT CURRENT
400

200
Time (days)
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
-200

-400

-600
Figure 10. Potential measuring on sample made with sea sand B without application of current

Predicting the service life of structures is to assess the incubation phase of corrosion. This is to define the time required for the first
surface of steel to be depassivated. This is a safe approach, since the onset of corrosion does not put structures in immediate danger.
The standard sets the threshold of chlorides is 0.2 % for prestressed concrete, in the studied case, with 0.2 % of chloride, has been
observed that corrosion is initiated after 12 days in accelerated conditions. The samples aged in natural conditions show no signs of
corrosion even after 3 years. This shows the need to evaluate the correlation between the duration of the samples determined by
current application and those aged in natural conditions.

Journal of Environmental Solutions Volume 2 (Issue 1) (2013): 9-15 13

 Bouataoui et al.

Mortar with sea sand A and dredged sand are concerned the samples that without current application show potential drops after a
short time: after 10 days and 3 months respectively; whereas the corresponding accelerated corrosion shows drops after 90 minutes
and 12 days respectively. The steel bar was weighed before and after the test according to the ASTM standard G1-90 (1999) proce-
dure, and the real mass losses of the steel rods were weighed after splitting the samples (with current application). The corrosion
degree was determined using the following equation (Fang et al., 2004):

𝐺0 − 𝐺
𝑐𝑅 = ∗ 100
𝑔0 𝑙

where G0 is the initial weight of the steel bar before corrosion, G is the weight of the steel bar after removal of the corrosion prod-
ucts, g0 is the weight per unit length of the steel bar , and l is the bond length.

Table 5. % Real mass loss of sample with sea sand A and dredging sand
Real mass loss % Chloride a %
sea sand A 3.750 0.83
dredging sand 4.165 0.5
sea sand B 0.41 0.2
Note. a total chloride content by the weight of cement

III.4 Crushed sand

With or without application of current, the results obtained on samples made with crushed sand are the state of degradation in the
incubation stage of reinforced concrete structures since the value of the measured potential doesn’t record values less than -300 mV
(figures 11 and 12).

Figure 11. Potential measuring on sample made with crushed sand with application of current

500
Potential (mV)

400
WITHOUT CURRENT
300
200
Time (days)
100
0
-100 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

-200
-300
-400
-500
Figure 12. Potential measuring on sample made with crushed sand without application of current

All potential values measured during the tests are situated in a range where no corrosion is observed. Indeed, at the end of testing,
the samples were crushed by splitting and no corrosion was visible on the surface of the steel (figure 13)

Journal of Environmental Solutions Volume 2 (Issue 1) (2013): 9-15 14

 Bouataoui et al.

Figure 13. No corrosion on the steel reinforcement of the sample with crushed sand

IV. CONCLUSIONS

The lower the chloride content of the sand, the more the onset of corrosion is delayed. In mortar samples made with sand with a
content of 0.2 % chloride, corrosion appeared after 12 days, with sand with a chloride content of 0.5 % (dredged sand) the onset of
corrosion is driven to 3 hours, when using sea sand with a high chloride content, the duration is reduced to 90 minutes, knowing that
the phenomenon of corrosion is accelerated by the application of current. The high chloride content in sea sand A rapids the initia-
tion of corrosion and makes the use of this material to vulnerable structures.
Structures made with sands with high chloride content can be in a very advanced state of degradation which requires establishment
of an expert partner to measure the current state of degradation. Moreover, the chloride threshold set by the standard to 0.2 % does
not mean you are protected of corrosion initiation.
The study of the corrosion initiation by application of current is a reliable and rapid execution. Its use allows determining the
threshold beyond which the incubation of corrosion occurs. On the other hand, a correlation between the incubation study with
impressed current and the natural state allows to predict the service life of structures and therefore it can increase the sands used
based on their costs and the type of structure.

REFERENCES

Andrade C., Alonso C. & Molina F.J., 1993. Cover cracking as a function of bar corrosion: Part I - experimental test. Mater. Struct. 26(8): 453–464.
ASTM standard C876–09, 2009. Standard Test Method for Corrosion Potentials of Uncoated Reinforcing Steel in Concrete. ASTM International, West
Conshohocken
ASTM standard C876-91, 1999. ASTM C876-91(1999) Standard Test Method for Half-Cell Potentials of Uncoated Reinforcing Steel in Concrete. ASTM
International, West Conshohocken.
ASTM standard G1-90, 1999. Standard Practice for Preparing, Cleaning, and Evaluating Corrosion Test Specimens. ASTM International, West Con-
shohocken.
Caré S. & Raharinaivo A., 2007. Influence of impressed current on the initiation of damage in reinforced mortar due to corrosion of embedded steel.
Cem. Concr. Res. 37(12): 1598-1612
Dreux G. & Festa J., 1998. Nouveau guide du béton et de ses constituants. 8eme Edition, Eyrolles, 3eme tirage
Dias W.P.S., Seneviratne G.A.P.S.N. & Nanayakkara S.M.A., 2008. Offshore Sand for Reinforced Concrete. Constr. Build. Mater. 22(7): 1377-1384
El Maaddawy T.A. & Soudki K.A., 2003. Effectiveness of Impressed Current Technique to Simulate Corrosion of Steel Reinforcement in Concrete.
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 15(1): 41-47
Elsener B., Andrade C., Gulikers J., Polder R. & Raupach M., 2003. Half-cell potential measurements - Potential mapping on reinforced concrete struc-
tures. Mater. Struct. 36(7): 461-471
Eurocode1, 1996. XP ENV 1991-1: Norme Européenne: Base de calculs et actions sur les structures et documents d’application national-Partie 1:
bases de calcul. AFNOR
Fang C., Lundgren K., Chen L. & Zhu C., 2004. Corrosion influence on bond in reinforced concrete. Cem. Concr. Res. 34(11): 2159–2167
Martin A-S., 2010. Environnement: 17 millions de mètres cubes de sable utilisés dans le BTP proviennent de l'informel. La vie éco.
http://www.lavieeco.com/economie/15891-environnement-17-millions-de-metres-cubes-de-sable-utilises-dans-le-btp-proviennent-de-
linformel.html
Norme Française EN 206-1, 2004. Béton - Partie 1: Spécification, performances, production et conformité.
Naish C.C., Harker A. & Carney R.F.A., 1990. Concrete inspection: interpretation of potential and resistivity measurements in corrosion of reinforce-
ment in concrete. In: Page C.L., Treadaway K.W.J., Bamforth P.B. (Eds.), International Symposium, Wishaw, Warwickshire, UK, Vols. 21–24, Else-
vier, London, pp. 314–332
Moroccan standard NM 10.1.008, 2008. Béton spécification, performances, production et conformité, équivalent à la norme européenne EN206-1 et
ses amendements.
Moroccan standard NM 10.1.283, 2008. Essai pour déterminer la caractéristiques géométriques des granulats : Evaluation des fines, Equivalent de
sable, équivalent à la norme européenne NF EN933-8.
Moroccan standard NM 10.1.700, 2008. Essai pour déterminer la caractéristiques géométriques des granulats : Détermination de la granularité,
Analyse granulométrique par tamisage, équivalent à la norme européenne NF EN933-1 et ses amendements.
Richardson M.G., 2002. Fundamentals of durable reinforced concrete. Taylor & Francis (CRC Press), 272 pp.
Sakr K., 2005. Effect of cement type on the corrosion of reinforcing steel bars exposed to acidic media using electrochemical techniques. Cem. Concr.
Res. 35(9): 1820-1826
Soleymani H.R. & Ismail M.E., 2004. Comparing corrosion measurement methods to assess the corrosion activity of laboratory OPC and HPC concrete
specimens. Cem. Concr. Res. 34(11): 2037–2044
Tuuti K., 1982. Corrosion of steel in concrete. CBI, Report Fo 4.82, Stockholm

Journal of Environmental Solutions Volume 2 (Issue 1) (2013): 9-15 15

View publication stats