Corrosion Performance of Concrete Columns after Localized Repairs in a Tropical Coastal Environment

Abstract

Abstract The tropical climate present in the Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most aggressive environments found in Mexico, which results in many concrete structures being affected by corrosion. Several types of primers, which are locally available, are used as prevention and/or repair methods for reinforcement steel found in concrete structures. Nonetheless, such primers are not designed to be used under alkaline environmental conditions. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the efficiency of these primers used to repair concrete columns of buildings exposed to a coastal marine environment in southeast Mexico. The repair method used involved the following steps: removal of the old concrete, cleaning the rebar with a brush, applying primer to the reinforcement steel, and finally applying bonding agent and new concrete cover. The electrochemical behavior of repaired and adjacent (non-repaired) zones was monitored based on electrochemical techniques with the use of a commercially confined-curr...