Potential use of zinc in the repair of corroded reinforced concrete

A detailed research program was undertaken to explore the possibility of using zinc to enhance the repair of corroded concrete. The variables studied were the water–cement ratio, chloride content, and amount of zinc coverage in the repair area. The results confirmed that using dense repair mortar alone can move the corrosion damage to adjacent unrepaired zones and that the presence of zinc can mitigate this problem. However, the engineering solution is complex since the effectiveness of zinc in the prevention of further corrosion may be influenced by various factors, such as leaking joint, zinc–steel contact area.