Influence of the Alkaline Reserve of Chloride-Contaminated Mortars on the 6-Year Corrosion Behavior of Corrugated UNS S32304 and S32001 Stainless Steels

Abstract

The durability of two lean corrugated duplex stainless steel (UNS S32304 and S32001) bars manufactured for concrete reinforcement was studied in four different corrosive conditions. These duplex stainless steels are more economical than the most traditional, well-known duplex grade steels (UNS S32205). The research was carried out in mortar samples for six years. In half of the samples, the alkaline reserve had been previously decreased, and their pH was slightly below 12, while in the other half, the pH close to the bars remained as-manufactured. Moreover, there were samples with modified and non-modified alkaline reserve where chlorides had been previously added to the mortar which were exposed to high relative humidity. In other samples—which were partially immersed in 3.5% NaCl—the chlorides entered through the mortar by natural diffusion. The electrochemical behavior of the reinforcements in these conditions was periodically monitored through corrosion potential (Ecorr) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements during the whole testing period. The samples were anodically polarized at the end of the exposure. The results prove that the decrease in the alkaline reserve of the mortars can affect the corrosion behavior of the studied lean duplex in environments with high chloride concentrations. The duplex microstructure of the reinforcements makes it so that the corrosion proceeds by selective attack of the phases.