Significance and influence of the ambient temperature as a rate factor of steel reinforcement corrosion

Abstract

The rate of corrosion of reinforcement being an electrochemical process, undoubtedly is dependent even on the level of the ambient temperature. Therefore, the ambient temperature seems to be an important factor of the corrosion rate and the durability of the reinforced concrete structures in aggressive environment. The present data on the influence and significance of the ambient temperature in the process of corrosion of reinforcement of the reinforced structures are surprisingly limited and poor. It seems that it is supposed to be a simple increase of corrosion rate when the ambient temperature is increased. The lack of information was a motivation for the present study. It was aimed at the experimental research of the influence of the increase of the ambient temperature on the rate of chloride induced corrosion of steel reinforcement. The results obtained show that the influence of the studied factor is more complex showing an acceleration effect till a temperature of 40°C diversified by the inhibition effects with further increase of the ambient temperature.