Improving the performance of damaged FBECR in chloride-contaminated concrete

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of surface damage on corrosion-resistance of fusion bonded epoxy coated (FBEC) steel bars cast in plain and blended cement concretes. The effect of exposure temperature (23+/-2°C, 35+/-2°C and 48+/-2°C) on the rate of corrosion was also evaluated. The effect of these parameters on the corrosion of FBEC bars was compared with the corrosion of mild steel bars by exposing the concrete specimens prepared with them and measuring corrosion potentials and corrosion current density at regular intervals. The corrosion current density measurements indicated that the defect-free FBEC bars were in a passive condition in all blended cements concrete specimens with up to 2% chloride, by weight of cement, even when they were exposed to 48°C. The corrosion current density in concrete specimen with black and damaged FBEC steel bars increased with an increase in the exposure temperature and the chloride contamination. The long-term performance of FBEC steel bars exposed to 48°C was satisfactory in the silica fume cement concrete specimens admixed with up to 2% chloride, by weight of cement.