Corrosion Resistance of Cr-Bearing Rebar to Macrocell Corrosion Environment Induced by Localized Carbonation

Artificial cracks were made in the cover concrete of specimens embedding ten types of steel rebars of different Cr contents. The research aims for developing Cr-bearing steel rebars resistant to macrocell corrosion environments induced by cracking in cover concrete. The cracks were subjected to intensive penetration of carbon dioxide (carbonation specimens) to form macrocells. The carbonation specimens were then treated with accelerated corrosion curing, during which current macrocell corrosion density was measured. The corrosion area and loss from corrosion were also measured at the end of 105 cycles of this accelerated curing. The results of the study showed that Cr-bearing steel with Cr content of 5% or more suppressed corrosion in a macrocell corrosion environment induced by the differences in the pH values due to carbonation of cracked parts. Cr-bearing steels with Cr content of 7% or more are proven to possess excellent corrosion resistance.