Testing the Bromide penetration resistance of concrete: substitution of NaCl by NaBr in Rapide Chloride/Bromide Migration Test (RCM/RBM)

Abstract

The chloride migration coefficient of concrete describes the resistance of concrete against chloride ingress. This important material variable can be determined with the rapid chloride migration test (RCM). During the test, chloride ions penetrate concrete by means of an applied electrical field. If the concrete has already been exposed to chlorides before the test starts, the test set up has to be adapted to achieve reliable results. Due to repeated exposure to the same salt (e.g. NaCl), there is no direct possibility to distinguish the chloride ions from the test procedure and the exposure before this, within the initial test procedure. Therefore, the RCM-test setup has been adapted by replacing NaCl through NaBr in the same molar amount. Consequently, this adapted test setup is called the rapid bromide migration test (RBM). The indicator silver nitrate AgNO3 forms sparingly soluble silver salts (AgCl, AgBr) in the presence of halogen ions (e.g. Cl-, Br-), which form a white precipitate in areas with Cl- or Br- ions. The penetration depths are measured at two split cylinder halves. In case the RBM-specimen has previously been exposed to NaCl, an analyzation technique has to be available for the two elements Cl and Br to enable a differentiation. As the white precipitate areas - a result of the formation of AgCl and AgBr - have a quite similar visual appearance, a differentiation cannot be achieved and other analytical techniques have to be considered. With laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), it is possible to determine the depth-dependent ion quantity (wt.-% of Cl or wt.-% of Br). In this study, it is shown by test results that it is possible to exchange NaCl by NaBr in the RCM test, since the penetration behavior of both ions (Cl-, Br-) is very similar in the migration test.