Influence of potential, chlorides, pH, and precharging time on embrittlement of cathodically polarized prestressing steel

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Corrosion (Houston); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5006/1.3316064· OSTI ID:6347939

Hartt, W H; Kumria, C C ^[1]; Kessler, R J ^[2]

---

1. Florida Atlantic Univ., Boca Raton (United States)
2. Bureau of Materials and Research, Gainesville, FL (United States)

Corrosion of prestressing steel in concrete has become a major technological problem in highways, buildings, and pipeline structures. While cathodic protection is recognized as an appropriate technique to mitigate corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete, the possibility of environmental cracking (hydrogen embrittlement) in the case of prestressing tendon has limited application to this usage. To establish the appropriateness of cathodic protection for prestressing steel, constant extension rate testing was performed on smooth and notched wire specimens in deaerated Ca(OH)[sub 2] solutions as a function of potential, [Cl-], pH, and precharging time. Results indicated potential is the most important of these variables, and a threshold value of [minus]0.90 V[sub SCE] was identified below which embrittlement is enhanced. Notched specimens, which may best simulate the geometry of corroded tendon, particularly were susceptible when compared to smooth tendon. Failure of some tendons in this condition could occur upon application of cathodic protection, even when potential is positive to [minus]0.90 V[sub SCE]. Other aspects of cathodic protection utility for prestressed concrete are reviewed.

• OSTI ID: 6347939
• Journal Information: Corrosion (Houston); (United States), Journal Name: Corrosion (Houston); (United States) Vol. 49:5; ISSN 0010-9312; ISSN CORRAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HYDROXIDES
CATHODIC PROTECTION
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CONCRETES
CORROSION PROTECTION
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
EMBRITTLEMENT
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT
HYDROXIDES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
REINFORCED CONCRETE
REINFORCED MATERIALS
STEELS
TESTING
TIME DEPENDENCE