Hydrogen absorption in iron exposed to simulated concrete pore solutions
- Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Safe cathodic protection (CP) limits are required for prestressed steel in concrete to avoid the risk of hydrogen embrittlement (HE). This preliminary study addressed some effects of concrete pore solution chemistry and metal surface condition on hydrogen absorption in iron. To accomplish this, the Devanathan-Stachurski permeation technique was used to investigate hydrogen absorption in 99.5% iron foils exposed to NaOH, saturated Ca(OH){sub 2}, and saturated Ca(OH){sub 2} + 0.6 M NaCl, all at pH 12.5. The foils used in this investigation were tested after various surface preparations: (a) polished, (b) with a thermal oxide formed by a heat treatment designed to simulate the stress relief oxide, and (c) with corrosion films to simulate an inservice tendon that was exposed to a marine environment for some time prior to CP. Hydrogen uptake in iron was most efficient for foils covered with Portland cement-based mortar, at least 2.5 times greater than that in NaOH of the same pH and hydrogen production rate. Absorption in saturated Ca(OH){sub 2} was somewhat less than that from the mortar cover. While chloride had no direct effect on the hydrogen absorption rate, the corrosion product and the thermal oxide were found to decrease hydrogen absorption compared to polished iron. The thermal oxide acted as a complete barrier at all charging current densities investigated. The effectiveness of this thermal oxide barrier to hydrogen, however, was compromised by corrosion resulting from alternate immersion exposure to a chloride environment.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 201374
- Journal Information:
- Corrosion, Journal Name: Corrosion Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 52; ISSN 0010-9312; ISSN CORRAK
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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