Corrosion of steel tendons used in prestressed concrete pressure vessels

Conference ·

OSTI ID:6490079

Griess, J. C.; Naus, D. J.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the corrosion behavior of a high strength steel (ASTM A416-74 grade 270), typical of those used as tensioning tendons in prestressed concrete pressure vessels, in several corrosive environments and to demonstrate the protection afforded by coating the steel with either of two commercial petroleum-base greases or Portland Cement grout. In addition, the few reported incidents of prestressing steel failures in concrete pressure vessels used for containment of nuclear reactors are reviewed. The susceptibility of the steel to stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement and its general corrosion rate were determined in several salt solutions. Wires coated with the greases and grout were soaked for long periods in the same solutions and changes in their mechanical properties were subsequently determined. All three coatings appeared to give essentially complete protection but small flaws in the grease coatings were detrimental; flaws or cracks less than 1 mm wide in the grout were without effect.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Nuclear Power Development Division
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6490079
• Report Number(s): CONF-781232-1; TRN: 79-006945
• Resource Relation: Conference: International symposium on corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete, Bal Harbor, FL, USA, 5 Dec 1978
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
REACTOR MATERIALS
CORROSION PROTECTION
STEEL-ASTM-A416
CORROSION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
SURFACE COATING
ALLOYS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEPOSITION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
STEELS
360105* - Metals & Alloys- Corrosion & Erosion
220200 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories