Efficiency of a conductive cement-based anodic system for the application of cathodic protection, cathodic prevention and electrochemical chloride extraction to control corrosion in reinforced concrete structures

• Graphite–cement anode useful for low charge concrete electrochemical Cl− extraction.
• Electrochemical Cl− extraction provides partial barrier against later Cl− ingress.
• Graphite–cement anode can be used for cathodic protection of reinforced concrete.
• Graphite–cement anode useful for combined Cl− extraction plus cathodic protection.
• Combined Cl− extraction–cathodic protection provide partial barrier to Cl− ingress.

This article describes the research carried out regarding the application of cathodic protection (CP) and cathodic prevention (CPrev), in some cases with a pre-treatment of electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE), on representative specimens of reinforced concrete structures, using an anodic system consisting of a graphite–cement paste applied as a coating on the surface. The aim of this research is to find out the competence of this anode for the aforementioned electrochemical treatments. The efficiency of this anode has been clearly demonstrated, as well as its capability to apply a combined process of ECE and after CP.