Abstract
An array electrode technique was developed as a novel electrochemical method for studying the interaction between macrocell and microcell in the early corrosion process of reinforcing steel in cement mortar. The corrosion potential and galvanic current of macrocell corrosion of the reinforcing steel in cement mortar were imaged by the array electrode technique during the corrosion initiation and propagation. It was certified that the corrosion macrocell current is closely related with the difference of corrosion potential between the anodic and cathodic areas. The corrosion macrocell and microcell always exist during the corrosion process. The interaction of corrosion macrocell and corrosion microcell of steel in concrete was directly sensed by the array electrode for the first time, and was discussed in terms of corrosion electrochemistry.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Qian S Y, Zhang J Y, Qu D Y. Theoretical and experimental study of microcell and macrocell corrosion in patch repairs of concrete structures. Cement Concrete Comp, 2006, 28: 685–695
Hansson C M, Poursace A, Laurent A. Macrocell and microcell corrosion of steel in ordinary Portland cement and high performance concretes. Cement Concrete Res, 2006, 36: 2098–2102
Hansson C M. Comments on electrochemical measurements of the rate of corrosion of steel in concrete. Cement Concrete Res, 1984, 14: 574–584
Elsener B. Macrocell corrosion of steel in concrete-implications for corrosion monitoring. Cement Concrete Comp, 2002, 24: 65–72
Standard Test Method for Half-Cell Potentials of Uncoated Reinforcing Steel in Concrete. ASTM C 876-91, 1991
Elsener B. Half-cell potential mapping to assess repair work on RC structures. Constr Build Mater, 2001, 15: 133–139
Andrade C, Gonzalez J A. Quantitative measurements of corrosion rate of reinforcing steels embedded in concrete using polarization resistance measurements. Mater Corros, 1978, 29: 515–519
Feliu S, González J A, Andrade M C, et al. Determining polarization resistance in reinforced concrete slabs. Corros Sci, 1989, 29: 105–113
Gowers K R, Millard S G, Gill J S, et al. Programmable linear polarization meter for determination of corrosion rate of reinforcement in concrete structures. Br Corros J, 1994, 29: 25–32
Andrade C, Keddam M, Nóvoa X R, et al. Electrochemical behaviour of steel rebars in concrete: Influence of environmental factors and cement chemistry. Electrochim Acta, 2001, 46: 3905–3912
Carnot A, Frateur I, Zanna S, et al. Corrosion mechanisms of steel concrete moulds in contact with a demoulding agent studied by EIS and XPS. Corros Sci, 2003, 45: 2513–2524
Aballe A, Bethencourt M, Botana F J, et al. Influence of the degree of polishing of alloy AA 5083 on its behaviour against localised alkaline corrosion. Corros Sci, 2004, 46: 1909–1920
Nagiub A, Mansfeld F. Evaluation of corrosion inhibition of brass in chloride media using EIS and ENA. Corros Sci, 2001, 43: 2147–2171
Wood R J K, Wharton J A, Speyer A J, et al. Investigation of erosion-corrosion processes using electrochemical noise measurements. Tribol Int, 2002, 35: 631–641
Zhao B, Li J H, Hu R G, et al. Study on the corrosion behavior of reinforcing steel in cement mortar by electrochemical noise measurements. Electrochim Acta, 2007, 52: 3976–3984
Lin C J, Zhuo X D, Chen J D, et al. Array electrode technique for measuring corrosion potential at the interface of organic coating/metals. J Chin Corros Protect, 1997, 17: 7–11
Hu R Z, Lin C J, He N Y, et al. Study on corrosion behavior of organic coating/steel in different anions solutions by using array electrode technique. J Xiamen Univ, 1997, 36: 869–874
Lin C J, Zhuo X D, Nguyen T. An array electrode technique for mapping corrosion potential at the polymer/metal interface. In: Comizzoli Comizzoli R B, Frankenthal R B, Sinclair J D, eds. Corrosion and Reliability of Electronic Materials and Devices. Electrochem Society, 1999. 282–288
Hu R Z, Lin C J, Zhou X, et al. A three dimensional analysis of corrosion potential at concrete/steel in corrosive solution. Electrochem, 2000, 6: 227–232
Tan Y J. Monitoring localized corrosion processes and estimating localized corrosion rates using a wire-beam electrode. Corros, 1998, 54: 403–413
Wang T, Tan Y J. Understanding electrodeposition of polyaniline coatings for corrosion prevention applications using the wire beam electrode method. Corros Sci, 2006, 48: 2274–2290
Aung N N, Tan Y J. A new method of studying buried steel corrosion and its inhibition using the wire beam electrode. Corros Sci, 2004, 46: 3057–3067
Tan Y J, Aung N N, Liu T. Novel corrosion experiments using the wire beam electrode: (I) Studying electrochemical noise signatures from localised corrosion processes. Corros Sci, 2006, 48: 23–38
Aung N N, Tan Y J, Liu T. Novel corrosion experiments using the wire beam electrode: (II) Monitoring the effects of ions transportation on electrochemical corrosion processes. Corros Sci, 2006, 48: 39–52
Tan Y J, Liu T, Aung N N. Novel corrosion experiments using the wire beam electrode: (III) Measuring electrochemical corrosion parameters from both the metallic and electrolytic phases. Corros Sci, 2006, 48: 53–66
Liu T, Tan Y J, Lin B Z, et al. Novel corrosion experiments using the wire beam electrode: (IV) Studying localised anodic dissolution of aluminium. Corros Sci, 2006, 48: 67–78
Yang L, Sridhar N, Pensado O, et al. An in-situ galvanically coupled multielectrode array sensor for localized corrosion. Corros, 2002, 58: 1004–1014
Yang L, Sridhar N, Brossia C S, et al. Evaluation of the coupled multielectrode array sensor as a real-time corrosion monitor. Corros Sci, 2005, 47: 1794–1809
Yang L, Sridhar N. Coupled multielectrode array systems and sensors for real-time corrosion monitoring-A review. In: Corrosion. Houston: NACE International, 2006. 06681
Legat A. Monitoring of steel corrosion in concrete by electrode arrays and electrical resistance probes. Electrochim Acta, 2007, 52: 7590–7598
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, L., Dong, S., Wang, W. et al. Study on interaction between macrocell and microcell in the early corrosion process of reinforcing steel in concrete. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 53, 1285–1289 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-010-0152-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-010-0152-y