Effect of Red Mud on the Corrosion of Reinforced Concrete Studied by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Abstract

The corrosion of concrete reinforcement is a worldwide problem with serious consequences to humans, including accidental deaths that may occur due to the degradation of this material. Thus, techniques that can measure concrete reinforcement corrosion and provide a reliable prediction of this phenomenon are fundamental for the technological development of these materials. The corrosion of steel bars embedded in concrete containing varying amounts of red mud (up to 30% of the total binder) was tested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), under partial immersion in a sodium chloride solution. The addition of red mud delayed the onset of corrosion and possibly also reduced the corrosion rate.