Monitoring of Corrosion Level in Nanocomposite Reinforced Concrete Specimens Using Zirconium Oxide Potential Sensor

The concrete and steel structures are frequently affected by chloride penetration leading to corrosion of the steel reinforcement and subsequent reduction in mechanical strength and durability. The present study deals with corrosion analysis of concrete structures using binary and ternary combinations of three nanocomposite materials (nano-SiO2, nano-CaCO3 and nano-Ca(OH)(2)) as partial replacements to cement (2-5%). The impacts of corrosion were analysed by measuring the rebar potential, impedance and polarization using embedded zirconium oxide potential sensor and surface-mounted electrode. The higher potential values (50-60%) have been achieved when 5% dosage of ternary combination mixes replaced with cement. Interestingly, the impedance and polarization have also been increased by 45-50% when compared with the other type of binary mixes. The rebar potential, impedance and polarization results for the ternary mixtures indicated enhanced corrosion resistance irrespective of the exposure to chloride environment when compared with the other mixtures. The present study highlights the advantages of ZrO senor-based corrosion detection and ensure scope for establishing reliable monitoring system for real-time corroded structures.

Automated summary

This study analyzes the corrosion of concrete structures by using binary and ternary combinations of nanocomposite materials. The results show that ternary combinations can enhance the corrosion resistance of concrete structures.