Assessment of carbonation-induced corrosion of vertical structures in Binondo using half-cell potential

• Main Authors: Alviar, Lex Ian C., Gaw, Jefron T., Go, Hans Ivan O.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Reinforced concrete > Corrosion > Testing; Reinforcing bars > Corrosion; Steel; Structural > Corrosion
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_honors/360
• Institution: De La Salle University

In this paper, selected structures in the Binondo area were assessed for carbonation-induced corrosion risk with the aim of acquiring a general idea of the corrosion risk probability that affected the area. Corrosion risk was measured using silver chloride half-cell potential, and these were compared to their depths of carbonation, obtained using the phenolphthalein indicator spray-test method. The researchers focused on old buildings, as much as possible investigating those that were the most exposed to pollution to attain more pronounced results during testing. The structures evaluated for the study were classified into two groups buildings in service and abandoned buildings. The researchers expected to encounter highly negative potential values since the buildings were quite old and some of them displayed signs of cracking and spalling, and the exposed reinforcing steel bars seen in the abandoned buildings were corroded. However, the potential values obtained were significantly more positive than expected. The data were even more unanticipated when compared to the carbonation depths obtained. Although some of the buildings showed to the carbonation had occurred deeper than the concrete cover depth, the potential values still indicated only low to intermediate carbonation risk. Through this study, the researchers hoped to get a better idea of the extent of the effect of corrosion on structural steel and that this information would serve as knowledge for future researchers to encourage further studies into corrosion, most especially in the field of construction.