Corrosion resistance of 6061-T6 aluminium alloy and its feasibility of near-surface reinforcements in concrete structure

Abstract

Abstract The durability of concrete structures is often reduced owing to the corrosion of reinforcement in an aggressive environment. Ordinary reinforcement methods, such as wrapping section steel or steel plate, are also vulnerable to corrosion. Using 6061-T6 aluminium alloy as near-surface reinforcement of the concrete structure is a feasible method. In this study, the corrosion resistance of 6061-T6 aluminium alloy bars was studied by simulating the coastal environment, atmospheric environment, and concrete internal environment with chloride solution, simulated acid rain solution, and saturated Ca(OH)2 solution. The corrosion rate of the 6061-T6 aluminium alloy in the above environments was tested using a weight loss method, and its corrosion resistance was evaluated using the metal corrosion resistance classification standard. Based on the electrochemical reaction mechanism, the polarisation properties and AC impedance spectra of steel and 6061-T6 aluminium alloy were compared, and the corrosion resistance mechanisms of steel and the 6061-T6 aluminium alloy in the above corrosive environments were obtained. The results show that the 6061-T6 aluminium alloy has better corrosion resistance than steel bars in chloride and atmospheric environments, with corrosion currents of 0.012 and 0.037 µA·cm−2, and 8-day corrosion rates of 0.051 and 0.031 mm·a−1, respectively. However, owing to the activity of the aluminium alloy, its corrosion resistance in an alkaline environment inside concrete is poor; the corrosion current is 0.22 µA·cm−2 and the 8-day corrosion rate is 16.166 mm·a−1. The research results can provide a reference for applying aluminium alloy bars as external prestressed concrete bars and near-surface steel bars.