Corrosion Behavior of Rebars Embedded in Alkali-Activated and Conventional Reactive Powder Concretes

Abstract

The present study investigated the corrosion behavior of reinforcement bars embedded in alkali-activated (ARPC) and conventional (CRPC) reactive powder concretes. Corrosion progress in 3.5% NaCl solution, water and air environments were monitored up to 365 days. The physical and mechanical characteristics, such as water absorption, rapid chloride ion permeability, compressive and flexural strength, and corrosion characteristics, such as half cell potential and corrosion current intensity results were compared for ARPC and CRPC matrices. Even for the same mechanical performance, alkali-activated mortars were found to have a high permeable structure and an early depassivation of the rebars occurred. In the propagation stage of chloride induced corrosion, almost 13 times higher corrosion current intensity values were measured as well as earlier deterioration and cracking was observed for ARPC compared to CRPC.