Corrosion behaviour of low-carbon steel reinforcement in alkali-activated slag-steel slag and Portland cement-based mortars under simulated marine environment

This research concerned the corrosion behaviour of low-carbon steel reinforcements in Portland cement, alkali-activated slag, and alkali-activated slag-steel slag mortars under simulated marine environment. Electrochemical measurements were used to monitor the corrosion process. The results showed that the steel reinforcements in alkali-activated mortars showed higher corrosion resistance under simulated submerged zones than that in Portland cement mortars. However, alkali-activated mortars presented higher deformation and more cracks, resulting in severe corrosion under simulated tidal zones. The incorporation of steel slag reduced the deformation, changed chemical compositions of the pore solutions, and therefore increased the corrosion resistance of the steel reinforcements.