The corrosion of steel reinforcement within concrete is a process influenced by the material's inherent properties and external factors. The high pH level of around 13, provided by calcium hydroxide present in concrete, initially protects the steel reinforcement by promoting the formation of a passive iron oxide layer on its surface.
However, over time and under certain conditions like carbonation, chloride ingress, and cracking this protective state can be compromised. Steel has areas with different electrochemical potentials, known as anodic and cathodic regions. The hydrated cement paste, containing salts, acts as an electrolyte that connects these regions. At the anodic regions, iron from the steel dissolves as positively charged ions into the electrolyte, while at the cathodic regions, electrons are consumed in reactions that involve water and oxygen from the surrounding concrete to produce hydroxyl ions.
These hydroxyl ions combine with the dissolved iron to create ferric hydroxide, which further oxidizes to become rust. The presence of chloride ions exacerbates this process, leading to localized pitting corrosion by forming hydrochloric acid that attacks the protective iron oxide layer. This corrosion can expand the steel, causing the concrete to crack and spall.
Preventative measures against the corrosion of steel reinforcement include using protective coatings such as epoxy or zinc on the steel itself or improving the concrete's quality to reduce its permeability, thereby hindering the ingress of corrosive agents.
