Embeddable reference electrodes for corrosion monitoring of reinforced concrete structures

Mixed‐metal oxide (MMO), graphite and laboratory‐made Ag/AgCl electrodes were electrochemically characterized to be used as reference electrodes embedded in concrete structures. Electrodes were studied in both, aqueous solutions of pH ranging from 7 to 13.5 and embedded into cement mortars; and the electrochemical studies were carried out in the absence and presence of chloride ions. Potential evolution, polarisation behaviour, galvanostatic pulse response and impedance characteristics of the electrodes were carried out in aqueous solutions. Besides, the electrochemical stability of the electrodes embedded in mortar was studied for an exposure period of two years. It was found that the MMO pseudo‐reference electrode is pH‐sensitive, the graphite pseudo‐reference electrode is oxygen sensitive and the Ag/AgCl pseudo‐reference electrode is chloride sensitive. Then, regarding the corrosion monitoring of steel rebars, care should be taken to avoid misleading interpretations of the corrosion potential measurements. However, any of them can be used to measure the corrosion rate of the rebars by means of traditional electrochemical techniques.