ABSTRACT

The aim of the present work is to study the effect of different dosages
of the high range water reducing admixtureadditive- (HRWRA), the
commercially polymeric material (Plastocrete-N), on the concrete strength
and the corrosion resistance of embedded steel in concrete exposed to
chloride solution in the absence and presence of sulfate ions.
In the present study, four levels of polymeric material (Plastocrete-N)
(0.125%, 0.250%, 0.375%, and 0.500% by weight of cement) were used to
prepare HRWRA treated concrete. The water/cement ratio was adjusted to
produce concrete having a target slump of 100 5 mm. Then, the concrete
specimens

exposed

to

chloride

and

chloridesulfate

solutions

at

concentrations of (3.5% NaCl and 5% Na2SO4), at ambient temperature.

The compressive strength, water

absorption after immersion, and

electrical resistance tests were performed for all concrete treated and
reference specimens at ages of (7, 28, 60, and 90) days of exposure to
corrosive environments. The electrochemical behavior of steel in both
reference and HRWRA concretes was studied under the effect of corrosive
environments using corrosion measurement systems such as: a) half cell
potentials measurement system and b) accelerated corrosion test system.
The data obtained in the present research indicated that the addition of
HRWRA leads to increase the compressive strength of concrete. Moreover,
this has led to reduction in absorption compared to reference concrete. Also,
adding of HRWRA showed an increment in electrical resistance of concrete.
The results of electrochemical measurements using halfcell potential
testing system showed that a longer time of corrosion initiation (180 day)
observed with 0.500% HRWRA containing concrete compared to other
different HRWRA percentage including the reference concrete.
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For the accelerated corrosion testing results, it is apparent that a longer

time to cracking of concrete imposed by steel reinforcement corrosion
products was found with 0.500% HRWRA containing concrete in
comparison with other different HRWRA additions and the reference
concrete. It was concluded that the use of 0.500% HRWRA provided superior
protection to steel reinforcement in concrete that subjected to corrosive
environments. Furthermore, the steel with 0.500% HRWRA was subjected to
corrosion test by mass loss, it is evident that a reduction in mass loss by about
90.2% and 85.2% in chloride and chloride-sulfate solutions, respectively.

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