Critical chloride content - Investigations of mortar electrodes in alkaline chloride solutions

Although the penetration of chloride ions into the concrete is obstructed by numerous protective mechanisms, the concrete thus a complex multi-barrier protective system represents, the chloride ions nevertheless succeed it to break through the protecting passive oxide layer of the steel, like the numerous chloride-induced corrosion damage from building practice clearly document. In a first part results have been outlined concerning the investigations of the reduced corrosion system of steel/concrete pore solution [1]. The present article comprises results of investigations into the critical corrosion-inducing chloride content that have been obtained by electrochemical investigations of mortar electrodes in alkaline chloride solutions. Finally the findings gained are explained with a view to the relevance they imply for building practice, and particularly for the design of new buildings to be constructed and the assessment of existing structures.