Corrosion of Steel in Concrete

Running head - CORROSION OF STEEL IN CONCRETE
Corrosion of Steel in Concrete
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1CORROSION OF STEEL IN CONCRETE
Introduction
Super structures are the fundamental infrastructure that is shaping the modern world.
Engineering marvels are made throughout the decades by making innovation in the construction
industry (Leygraf et al. 2016). One of the most important aspect based on which these mega-
structures are built is concrete. Concrete provide shape and provides the necessary base to these
structures. Concrete could be classified of two types – PCC and RCC. Plain Cement Concrete is
made of fine and course aggregate along with cement being the binding agent (Li et al., 2015).
The following paper would be discussing about the problems in the structural strength of
steel reinforced concrete due to the effect of corrosion. In construction field, corrosion of the
reinforced material is one of the most widely researched topic as the problems that are identified
due to corrosion is devastating. The structural integrity of the materials are weakened as rust
destroys the molecular compaction of the metals. Structures suffer loss in strength due to
corrosion which results in rusting, starting of fire, electrical short-circuit and finally the collapse
of building or any other superstructure.
Discussion
Concept of corrosion
According to Talbot & Talbot (2018), corrosion is classified as a deadly effect to the
metal surface. It destroys the structural integrity of the metal, weakening the molecular
compaction of the metal; which in turn damages the strength of the metal. It is also costly to
solve the problem of corrosion. The effects of corrosion could be devastating as building, bridges
and other structures could collapse due to it (Thomas et al. 2015). Corrosion is classified as a
natural process of conversion, where atoms of metallic compounds are is converted into more

2CORROSION OF STEEL IN CONCRETE
stable form of in chemical terms like oxides or hydroxide or oxide of sulfides. As discussed by
Perez (2016), the process of corrosion could also be classified as the process of destruction of
metals through the process of electrochemical reaction in the surface of the metal.
Process of corrosion
Metals such as steel and iron are corroded when it comes in contact with acidic
substances like water or moisture, the Fe atoms are oxidized as it comes in direct contact with
them (Xu et al., 2015). Metals like steel when comes in contact with water, the iron atoms
present in steel is lost to the electrolyte present in it. When the iron particle in the steel is
oxidized, formation of Fe++ ions occurs in the anode part of steel. According to (Cui et al.
2018), the Fe++ denotes the loss of two electrons in the surface atoms of steel. Thus, when the
Fe++ atoms are formed, these ions are moved to the cathode area in the steel. Thus, through the
oxidation process, the electrons are forced by the oxygen atoms in the steel to rise up and form
OH ions, better known as hydroxyl ions. These ions react with the Fe++ ions to form hydrous
iron oxide compound; (FeOH) which is known as rust (Dreybrodt, Gabrovšek & Perne, 2016).
Principle of Corrosion
According to (Ramezanzade er al., 2018), there are certain principle of corrosion that
quantifies the process of corrosion. These principle of corrosions could be classified as Half Cell
Reaction, Potential of Electrode and Corrosion rates and polarization.
The half-cell reaction states that in the process of corrosion, two reaction takes place in
the metal in a half and half way (El-Reedy, 2017). The reaction at anode part of the metal which
is also known as the anodic reaction, atoms in the metal are ionized and passed in the solution,
thus leaving the electrons within the original metal surface. The second process, which is