Influence of Carbon Dioxide Curing on the Corrosion Resistance of Reinforced Cement Mortar under the External Erosion of NaCl Freeze–Thaw Cycle

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2)-cured concrete is a novel material that can effectively reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. However, limited research has been found to investigate the corrosion behavior of CO2-cured reinforced concrete. In this paper, the corrosion resistance of reinforced cement mortar is investigated. The mortars were cured in CO2 for 1 day~28 days. Water–cement ratios (w/c) of 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 were designed. The corrosion resistance of inner steel bars was researched by the methods of ultrasonic velocity, electrical parameters (AC electrical resistance, Tafel curve method and AC impedance spectroscopy). Moreover, scanning electron microscope was selected for observing the micro-morphology of CO2-curing mortar. X-ray diffraction spectrum was used to characterize components of steel bars’ passive films. The results show that CO2 can effectively increase electrical resistivity and ultrasonic velocity, thus improving the corrosion resistance of reinforced cement mortar. The enhancement of carbon dioxide curing increases with the increasing w/c. The mass-loss rate, the electrical resistivity and the decreasing rate of ultrasonic velocity increase with the increasing sodium chloride freeze–thaw cycles, indicating the continuous increase in the corrosion degree of reinforcement. The corrosion deterioration degree of steel bars decreases with the increasing CO2-curing time. Specimens with w/c of 0.3 and 0.4 show the highest and lowest corrosion deterioration resistances after sodium chloride freeze–thaw cycles. Microscopic characterization found that CO2 curing could increase the corrosion resistance of the inner steel bars by improving the compactness of the cement matrix. Moreover, the iron oxides on the surface of the passivation film decreased after CO2 curing.