Deoxyribonucleic acid as an inhibitor for chloride-induced corrosion of reinforcing steel in simulated concrete pore solutions

The corrosion inhibition effect of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) on steel reinforcement in simulated concrete pore solutions was investigated by stereo-microscope and various electrochemical techniques including linear polarization resistance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization, and the chemical composition of the passive film formed on the steel electrode in DNA corrosion inhibitor was investigated using XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). The results show that the DNA corrosion inhibitor increased the corrosion resistance of the steel electrode significantly, with DNA forming a dense film on the steel surface which could effectively restrict the corrosion attack and provide the reinforcement steel superior corrosion resistance.