Corrosion Behavior of Cr-bearing Corrosion Resistant Rebar in Concrete with Chloride Ion Content

Abstract

Conventional studies have focused on the reduction in the water-cement ratio, the use of various admixtures, etc., to ensure the durability of reinforced concrete structures against such deterioration factors as carbonation and chloride attack. However, improvement in the concrete quality alone is not considered sufficient or realistic for meeting the recent demand for a service life of over 100 years. This study intends to improve the durability of reinforced concrete structures by improvement in the reinforcing steel, which has remained untouched due to cost problems, through subtle adjustment of the steel components to keep the cost low. As a fundamental study on the performance of Cr-bearing rebars in steel reinforced concrete structures exposed to corrosive environments, The test specimens were made by installing 8 types of rebars in concretes with a chloride ion content of 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 and 24㎏/㎥. Corrosion accelerated curing were then conducted with them. The corrosion resistance of Cr-bearing rebars was examined by measuring crack widths, half-cell potential, corrosion area and weight loss after 155 cycles of corrosion-accelerating curing. The results of the study showed that the corrosion resistance increased as the Cr content increased regardless of the content of chloride ions, and that the Cr-bearing rebars with a Cr content of 5% and 9% showed high corrosion resistance in concretes with a chloride ion content of 1.2 and 2.4㎏/㎥, respectively.