Corrosion resistance of galvanized steel reinforcements in carbonated concrete: effect of wet–dry cycles in tap water and in chloride solution on the passivating layer

Abstract

The effect of wet–dry cycles in tap water and in 3.5% NaCl solution on the passivating products of galvanized steel after concrete carbonation was investigated. The results show that carbonation destroys the passivating layer of calcium hydroxyzincate with the formation of the amorphous products ZnCO3 and Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6, which are also protective. The exposure to wet–dry cycles in tap water after concrete carbonation does not significantly increase the corrosion rate of the galvanized steel with respect to the values measured in non-carbonated concrete. On the contrary, the exposure to chloride solution after concrete carbonation leads to a marked decrease in the chloride threshold for galvanized steel corrosion with respect to that found in non-carbonated concrete.