The effect of zeolite and diatomite on the corrosion of reinforcement steel in 1 M HCl solution

• Corrosion behavior of reinforcing steel in concrete exposed to HCl solution was identified.
• This research one more time proves that EIS is an attractive method for measuring corrosion of reinforcing steel.
• We found out that porosity plays a very important role in reinforcing concrete.
• The steel reinforcement in the zeolite was less corroded than the diatomite and the reference samples.

The greatest disadvantage of reinforced concrete structures is the corrosion occurring in the reinforcement which, over time, causes a reduction in the reinforcement-concrete adherence and eventual sectional loss. The purpose of this study was to reveal the corrosion mechanism of ribbed reinforcement inside additive-free (reference), 20% zeolite-doped and 20% diatomite-doped concrete samples after exposure to 1 M HCl over 240 days. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were made every 10 days. Consequently, it was determined that the 20% zeolite-doped concrete samples had higher concrete and reinforcement resistance compared to the 20% diatomite-doped and the reference concrete, i.e. they exhibited less corrosion.

Experimental setup: (1) Ag/AgCl electrode; (2) Pt wire; (3) Working electrode.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide