The investigation of pH threshold value on the corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete

The aim of this study is to investigate the pH threshold value for the corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete. A method was designed to attain the pH value of the pore solution on the location of the steel in concrete. Then the pH values of the pore solution on the location of steel in concrete were changed by exposing the samples to the environment (CO2 5%, RH 40%) to accelerate carbonation with different periods. Based on this, the pH threshold value for the corrosion of steel reinforcement had been examined by the methods of half-cell potential and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). The results have indicated that the pH threshold value for the initial corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete was 11.21. However, in the carbonated concrete, agreement among whether steel corrosion was initiatory determined by the detection methods mentioned above could be found.