Corrosion in Reinforcement Cement Concrete

Corrosion is an electrochemical reaction initiated by many factors like the ingress of chloride particles and carbon particles. The electrons can move in the steel rebar and the ions can move in the concrete, which acts as an electrode leading to corrosion. The rate of corrosion can be mitigated by the addition of corrosion inhibitors into the concrete. The corrosion increases the volume of rebar and hence, cracking of concrete takes place. The cracking of concrete can be mitigated by the addition of fibers and bacteria into the concrete. The bacteria can produce calcium carbonate, which helps in the self-healing of cracks in concrete. To examine the damage of the reinforcement in the concrete, X-ray microcomputed tomography is employed without wasting of testing sample.

Keywords: Bacteria, Chloride and Carbon Particles, Corrosion, Electrochemical Reaction.