Role of Chemical based Inhibitors in Protecting the Concrete Structures from Corrosion: Present Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

Building industry is a rapid growing worldwide because of urbanization. Concrete is a primary requirement in the construction of residential buildings, shopping malls, industry structures, etc. The life of a building mainly depends on the ingredients used in the concrete during the construction activity. However, the concrete structures undergo deterioration because of the presence of highly corrosive ions in the admixture after long term. If the corrosion of the steel rods is severe in concrete, the buildings may collapse at any time which will lead to heavy loss for human lives. In this regard, protection of steel embedded in concrete from the corrosive attack is an important issue among civil engineering professionals and chemists. For this purpose, the technologies related to the adoption of suitable composition of steel, suitable combination of ingredients in the concrete, change of processing parameters/methodologies, etc. are being worked out. Apart from this, suitable chemical inhibitors are being studied across the globe to overcome this corrosion problem in a greater extent. In this review article, the type of chemical inhibitors used in admixtures and their effective role in protecting the concrete structures are discussed. Based on this, suitable suggestions are also recommended for the benefit of the society.