Study on the Behavior and Durability of Reinforced Concrete in Boric Acid Environment

Abstract

By method of artificial simulating acid environment to celebrating corrosion, the effects of boric acid on the physical properties and performance of reinforced concrete were investigated. The experimental study of concrete in nature and in various boric solutions (2000ppm, 8000ppm, 30000ppm) was carried out. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and elastic modulus of concrete were measured. The weight losses of steel bars and bond strength of reinforced concrete were calculated to analysis the influence of boric acid on reinforced bars. The ingredient change of concrete submerged in boric acid solution was studied with X-ray diffraction analysis. The experiments show that, in general, the mechanical strength of corrupted concrete increases with time. While comparing to the specimen curried in nature environment, the fundamental properties of concrete in boric acid solution decrease slightly. In this research, the influence of boric acid on the corrosion of the steel bars and the interacting between the concrete and the steel bars are insignificant. Three kinds of borides are detected in the X-ray diffraction analysis. It can be concluded from the research that boric acid will not generate apparent influence on the mechanics performance of concrete and steel bars. The same conclusion can be drawn on the bond properties between concrete and steel bars. Generally, corrosiveness of boric acid to reinforced concrete is quite weak.