Corrosion of reinforcing steel in neutral and acid solutions simulating the electrolytic environments in the micropores of concrete in the propagation period

Steel embedded in concrete passivates due to the alkaline nature of the concrete pore solution. Reinforcement corrosion develops when the alkalinity is neutralized. Corrosion, in turn, induces acidification of the surrounding pore solution. In the present paper, corrosion rate of corrugated steel bars is studied and measured at different pH values in solutions simulating chloride environments. The media considered consists of saturated calcium hydroxide solutions containing Na and K⁺, neutralized with ferrous chloride. This latter substance is the soluble compound produced during the corrosion of steel after chloride attack. Hydrochloric acid solutions of different pHs were prepared in order to compare the steel corrosion rates in these solutions with those observed in ferrous chloride solutions of the same pH. A comparison of polarization resistance measurements (R_p) with gravimetrically weight loss determined is presented. Tafel slopes results are also included. Additionally, a comparison is made between measurements of AC impedance with those of the R_p method. The results indicate that the corrosion rate in the studied media follows the general trend found in other media of similar pH values: corrosion increases in acidic solutions, remains rather stable for pH range 3-11 and decreases significantly in highly alkaline solutions.