The use of migrating corrosion inhibitors to repair motorways' concrete structures contaminated by chlorides

The effectiveness of migrating corrosion inhibitors (MCIs) and repair mortars against rebar corrosion was studied in concrete specimens made by ordinary Portland cement with w/c ratio equal to 0.6 and containing 1 wt.% of chlorides. An alkanolamine-based inhibitor was tested in addition with a common mortar and two repair mortars. Electrochemical techniques, measurements of corrosion potential and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to determine the corrosion behaviour of the specimens when a cell containing a 3.5% NaCl solution was applied on the rehabilitation mortar. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) was also used for the characterisation of repair mortars' total porosity and a chemical analysis was made to determine the amount of chlorides penetrated in the mortar layers and in the concrete substrate. Results demonstrate that the simultaneous use of the alkanolamine-based inhibitor with a good barrier coating offers protection against rebar corrosion and allows rehabilitation of deteriorated concrete structures.