The influence of internal relative humidity on the rate of corrosion of steel embedded in concrete and mortar

Journal Article · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1993 · Cement and Concrete Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0008-8846(94)90122-8· OSTI ID:6998430

Enevoldsen, J N; Hansson, C M; Hope, B B ^[1]

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1. Queen's Univ., Kingston, Ontario (Canada)

Once corrosion of reinforcing steel has been initiated, the internal relative humidity and electrical resistivity of the concrete cover are two of the factors controlling active corrosion. To determine this influence, simultaneous measurements of corrosion rate, electrical resistivity and internal relative humidity were carried out on mortar and concrete specimens. The corrosion rate was found to be strongly dependent on the electrical resistivity of the mortar or concrete cover. The electrical resistivity is, in turn, determined by the relative humidity and the concentration of chlorides in the pore solution and the experimental results suggest the existence of a threshold limit of the relative humidity below which a significant corrosion current cannot be supported.

• OSTI ID: 6998430
• Journal Information: Cement and Concrete Research; (United States), Journal Name: Cement and Concrete Research; (United States) Vol. 24:7; ISSN CCNRAI; ISSN 0008-8846
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105* -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
360604 -- Materials-- Corrosion
Erosion
& Degradation
360606 -- Other Materials-- Physical Properties-- (1992-)
ALLOYS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CONCRETES
CORROSION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LIMITING VALUES
MATERIALS
MOISTURE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REINFORCED CONCRETE
REINFORCED MATERIALS
STEELS