Review on Rebar Corrosion in Alkali-Activated Concrete Subjected to Chloride-Rich Environment

Abstract

Rebar corrosion in concrete structures is a crucial issue for deterioration, resulting in a significant impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year worldwide. For this reason, the construction industry urgently needs novel construction materials. A sustainable alternative, Alkali-Activated Concrete (AAC), has the potential to replace conventional cement concrete. The evaluation of AAC's durability properties has attracted significant attention. AAC's corrosion resistance was evaluated using various mix compositions, exposure conditions, and contaminants. In marine-exposed reinforced concrete structures, chloride is the primary corrosive agent that attacks reinforcement. A systematic review is necessary to overcome the main challenges of alkali-activated concrete corrosion under chloride-induced conditions. This article provides a comprehensive literature review of the chloride-induced corrosion phenomenon in AAC. The role of various parameters comprising the mix composition of AAC, which governs its resistance to chloride-induced corrosion, has been identified and briefly discussed, also explaining different electrochemical techniques of corrosion monitoring. The Review concludes that AAC is identical to conventional cement concrete regarding chloride resistance but also illustrates the ambiguity between test results and actual conditions.