Rhizophora Mangle L. Effects on Steel-reinforced Concrete in 0.5 M H2SO4: Implications for Corrosion-degradation of Wind-energy Structures in Industrial Environments

This paper studies corrosion inhibition and compressive-strength effect of Rhizophora mangle L. leaf-extract on steel-reinforced concrete in 0.5 M H2SO4, simulating industrial environment of wind-energy installations. Electrochemical monitoring and load- bearing/compressive-strength testing were employed for different concentrations of the leaf-extract admixed in duplicated samples of steel-reinforced concretes, immersed in the test-system. Analyses of the experimental test-results, as per ASTM G16- 95 R04, identified 0.1667% Rhizophora mangle L., per weight of cement, with optimum (very good) inhibition efficiency. Rhizophora mangle L. admixtures combined good inhibition efficiency with compressive-strength improvements in concretes. These bear implications for protecting wind-energy structures against corrosion-degradation in industrial environments.