Investigation of incorporating cinnamaldehyde into Lightweight Aggregate for potential corrosion reduction in cementitious materials

Each year, corrosion of concrete results in billions of dollars' worth in damage. Cinnamaldehyde, a bioactive agent, can mitigate the corrosion of metals and potentially protect rebar within concrete. However, it cannot be incorporated into concrete during mixing since it negatively effects the hydration reaction between cement and water. To avoid these undesirable effects while keeping anti-corrosive properties in a cementitious mixture, an innovative approach through the use of Lightweight Aggregate (LWA) was taken. The experimental cinnamaldehyde-LWA mortar showed reduced compressive strength, heat evolution, and rebar pullout bond stress, but promising results regarding chloride threshold level and sorptivity.