Corrosion inhibitors for enhanced strength, durability, and microstructure of coastal concrete structures

Abstract

The prevalence of catastrophic structural member failure caused by steel corrosion in civil infrastructure underscores the importance of reducing reinforcement corrosion to enhance overall infrastructure costs, reliability, and sustainable development. This study examines the use of corrosion inhibitors to improve the durability and strength of concrete structures, with a focus on their long-term effectiveness in resisting corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. Multiple approaches such as inhibitors, repairing processes, and coatings have been explored to prevent concrete corrosion damage, with an emphasis on concrete corrosion performance in coastal and corrosive situations. This study investigates the effect of six different corrosion inhibitors (zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, urea, sodium nitrate, sodium molybdate, and diethyl ether) on the compressive strength, durability, and microstructural properties of concrete samples. The compressive strength is assessed using both destructive (28 days cube compressive strength) and non-destructive (Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity) test methods, while concrete durability is evaluated using the rapid chloride permeability test . SEM imaging is also conducted to analyze the microstructure of each mix. The findings of this study highlight the importance of inhibitors in enhancing the durability of reinforced concrete structures.