Cu/CuSO4 Solid-State Reference Electrode for Potential Corrosion Measurement on the Reinforcing Steel

Abstract

AbstractPotential measurement on rebar reinforcing steel plays a vital role in the reinforced concrete corrosion investigation. One of the essential factors in the measurement is the reference electrode. Therefore, improving reference electrodes (RE) for potential collecting data is recommended for corrosion analysis. Liquid-based RE was used frequently by many researchers for this matter. However, the liquid-based RE performance reduction will occur due to the mechanical phenomenon on the RE, i.e. leakage of the electrode solution and range distance between rebar and the concrete cover. Thus, the research focuses on the solid-state RE developed for the potential distribution measurement on the reinforced concrete analysis. By using the method, the limitation of liquid-based RE was solved. Copper-copper Sulfate (CCS) was prepared for the reference solution. The Open Circuit Measurement (OCP) was applied for the stability performance analysis of the solid-state RE. Furthermore, Potential corrosion analysis on the rebar concrete was carried out and validated with the commercial Ag/AgCl RE. The result shows the stability performance of the CCS solid-state reference electrode and similar OCP behavior with Ag/AgCl commercial RE. The influence of distancing between rebar to reference electrode location was performed, and actual potential data from the rebar was measured on the reinforcing rebar. The real-time potential data was collected in order to reinforce concrete corrosion investigation. The result shows the high-risk corroding that occurred on the rebar and was validated by Ag/AgCl potential distribution value. Directly visualization from the rebar concrete specimen proved the high-risk corrosion phenomenon. Therefore, the results obtained allow us to conclude that solid-state RE is recommended for the rebar concrete corrosion analysis.KeywordsCopper-Copper Sulfate (CCS)Solid-stateReference electrodeReinforced concrete