Organic substances as inhibitors for chloride-induced corrosion in reinforced concrete

Corrosion inhibitors are used to prevent chloride-induced corrosion in reinforced concrete structures. Since performance of commercial organic inhibitors is only partially satisfactory, a 7-year long research has been carried out in order to set-up a new organic inhibitive mixture, able to prevent chlorides-induced corrosion. A first screening, by means of potentiodynamic polarisation test in alkaline synthetic pore solution, was performed on 80 organic compounds, mainly primary and tertiary amines, aminoalcohols, carboxylates compounds and aminoacids, in order to select the best inhibiting substances. The nine best inhibitive organic substances were selected for long-term tests: 2 amines (dimethylethanolamine and triethylentetramine), 4 aminoacids (aspartate, asparagine, glutamate and glutamine) and 3 carboxylates compounds (tartrate, benzoate and EDTA). Potentiostatic polarisation and free corrosion tests in synthetic pore solution were performed, as well as tests in concrete exposed to accelerated chlorides penetration. Five years of tests allow estimating the efficiency of the substances in preventing chlorides-induced corrosion, in term of influence on chlorides penetration and on critical chlorides threshold.