Effect of silica fume and steel slag coarse aggregate on the corrosion resistance of steel bars

This study evaluates the corrosion resistance of concrete cylindrical specimens. The concrete samples were prepared from electric arc furnace steel slag (EAFSS) with percentages equal to 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%, and were examined as a partial replacement of ordinary coarse aggregate (dolomite). Silica fume with 20% replacement of the weight of the used cement was utilized in order to study its effect on the corrosion resistance of the embedded steel bars. Twenty cylindrical specimens, with a diameter equal to 50 mm and a height of 200 mm, were prepared and merged in NaCl solution with 3.5% concentration. Subsequently, the electrochemical behavior of the specimens was assessed using linear polarization resistance technique and open circuit voltage. The results indicated that rebar in the concrete specimens which contains steel slag was found to be resisting corrosion efficiently better than the control specimens which incorporates dolomite as coarse aggregate.