Carbonated concrete steel repassivation study through chemical realkalisation technique.

Author(s)

Fernanda Wanderley Corrêa de Araújo

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP/BC)
• Defense date: 2009-09-14

Examining board members

Paulo Roberto do Lago Helene; Maryangela Geimba de Lima; Gibson Rocha Meira; Eliana Cristina Barreto Monteiro; Luiz Carlos Pinto da Silva Filho

• Advisor: Paulo Roberto do Lago Helene

Abstract

This research studied the method of chemical realkalisation (CRA), through the absorption and diffusion of alkalis in the carbonated concrete surface, as a new technique of rehabilitation. The experimental program was conducted in three set of concrete specimens: reference, carbonated and CRA treated. The CRA method was studied with three types of alkaline solutions: sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. To evaluate the effectiveness of CRA treatment was carried out measures of depths of carbonation and realkalisation; electrochemical measurements of potential and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to verify the condition of steel bars; immersion, absorption and capillary tests. Besides these tests, the study of repassivation in corroded steel bars when applied the technique of electrochemical realkalisation (ERA) was also performed in parallel, since their effectiveness is considered unclear in various studies regarding the durability of the technique. The concrete treated with CRA method was submitted to a new accelerated carbonation cycle, and new measurements of carbonation depth were made for each alkaline solution applied. The repassivates reinforcements with ERA technique showed that the sodium carbonate solution provided corrosion potential values more electropositive than the KOH solution, and EIS graphics are similar those obtained with the KOH solution. In CRA technique, the KOH solution was more efficient, and the results of corrosion potential are similar those obtained with the sodium carbonate solution, however, with the results of impedance and phase angle higher than for sodium carbonate solution. The calcium hydroxide solution showed the best results of corrosion potential, providing bars more electropositive than before carbonation. However, the calcium hydroxide solution not provided the concrete realkalisation, and this alkaline solution should be more studied. Their implementation must be viewed with exceptions until its effectiveness has been proved. At the end of durability experiments was possible to verify that the CRA greatly increased the concrete durability when subjected to a new accelerated carbonation cycle. After 45 days of testing, the reference concrete specimens were almost totally carbonated. Therefore, the concrete specimens realkalised with sodium carbonate and potassium hydroxide solutions were no carbonation indication. (AU)