Study on corrosion behavior of reinforcing steel in concrete subjected to chloride contamination by EIS

Abstract

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chloride sensor were employed to study the corrosion behavior of reinforcing steel in concrete. EIS results indicated that the reinforced concrete system contains two time constants, one derived from electrical double layer of reinforcing steel and the other from concrete layer. The electrical double layer was denoted by a constant phase element other than a capacitor. Ag/AgCl chloride sensor was applied in probing and monitoring the Cl- at steel/concrete interface. A discussion was carried out on the relationship between the electrochemical behavior of rebar and the interfacial chemistry of steel/concrete.