Investigating the effect of curing in the chloride diffusion coefficient of conventional concrete

Abstract

Concrete is the most used material in the construction industry worldwide. Built concrete infrastructure is exposed to specific environments conditions during the asset’s life, which impose chemical and physical actions that may lead to premature deterioration. Poor concrete durability and corrosion of reinforcement bars are the primary cause of structural deterioration and reduced service life. Most concrete deterioration mechanisms are driven by transport properties, in particular, the chloride diffusion coefficient. In this paper, the effect of curing in the chloride diffusion coefficient of conventional concrete is investigated through Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Reinforced concrete samples cured for 3, 7 and 28 days were exposed to accelerated chloride testing for 300 days (40 wet-dry cycles). Results indicate that the chloride diffusion coefficient reduces significantly with curing time, evidencing that prolonged curing may decrease the likelihood of corrosion in reinforced concrete structure when combined with appropriate design and construction processes.