Abstract
The mechanical and electrochemical performance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) were investigated regarding a novel improvement in the load-carrying capacity and durability of reinforced concrete structures by adopting CFRP as both a structural strengthener and an anode of the impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system. The mechanical and anode performance of CFRP were investigated in an aqueous pore solution in which the electrolytes were available to the anode in a cured concrete structure. Accelerated polarization tests were designed with different test durations and various levels of applied currents in accordance with the international standard. The CFRP specimens were mechanically characterized after polarization. The measured feeding voltage and potential during the test period indicates CFRP have stable anode performance in a simulated pore solution. Two failure modes were observed through tensile testing. The tensile properties of the post-polarization CFRP specimens declined with an increased charge density. The CFRP demonstrated success as a structural strengthener and ICCP anode. We propose a mathematic model predicting the tensile strengths of CFRP with varied impressed charge densities.
Highlights
It is well known that the corrosion of steel is the major cause of damage of reinforced concrete structures exposed to de-icing salts or marine environments [1,2]
carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) was employed in pre-corroded reinforced concrete beams for both structural strengthening and impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP); the results showed that the ultimate strength of CFRP for dual functions was slightly lower than it was for a control specimen, in which CFRP was used for structural strengthening only [6]
Accelerated polarization tests were performed in simulated ICCP systems with simulated pore solutions
Summary
It is well known that the corrosion of steel is the major cause of damage of reinforced concrete structures exposed to de-icing salts or marine environments [1,2]. The impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) technique is currently well accepted as a suitable technique for the protection of reinforced concrete structures that have been damaged by chloride-induced corrosion [4]. A number of anode systems have currently been investigated in the impressed cathodic protection, including activated titanium mesh [7], metalized zinc [8], conductive organic paints [9], and coating-overlay anodes [10]. These anode systems are either highly expensive or suffer from durability problems. Conductive paints are cheaper, but they cannot supply current densities higher than 20 mA/m2 for long periods of Materials 2016, 9, 103; doi:10.3390/ma9020103 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
