Experimental analysis of reinforcement rust in cement under corrosive environment

Abstract

In this work, the microstructure characteristics of corrosion products of reinforcement under a corrosive environment with chloride, carbonation and the combination of chloride-carbonization were studied by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy/energy spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The results indicate that the outside of the passivation film reacts with the cement slurry to produce Fe–SiO4 in all three corrosive environments. The inner side is not completely corroded. The morphology of the corrosion is different in the three environments. In a chloride environment, corrosion products have obvious cracks, and the local layered structure is dense. In a carbonation environment, the surface of the steel corrosion shows a uniform granular structure and loose texture. With the combination of chloride and combination, the surface of the structural layer of steel corrosion was uneven and accompanied by protrusions, cracking and spalling occurred. The composition of the corrosion substances in the three corrosion environments are mainly composed of FeO, Fe3O4, Fe2O3 and Fe–SiO4. The content of iron oxide increases from a chloride salt, carbonization to the composite environment, indicating that the corrosion degree intensifies successively.