Some Aspects of Using Stainless Steel as Concrete Reinforcing Bars and Recent Developments in High Nitrogen, Low Nickel Stainless Steels

Abstract

This review gives an introduction to the problems (carbonation-induced corrosion and chloride-induced corrosion) associated with the use of carbon steel reinforcing bars (rebars) in concrete. The various strategies and some recently patented technologies for preventing/mitigating rebar corrosion (such as cathodic protection and the use of corrosion inhibitors), together with their strengths and weaknesses, are presented. The viability of using stainless steels as rebars is then discussed. The new generations of stainless steels (together with some recent patents on them), i.e., the low-Ni/Nifree austenitic and duplex stainless steels, which are applicable as concrete rebars, are introduced at the end of the article.