Investigations on cathodic control of chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion

Regarding the mechanisms of reinforcement corrosion there are still contradictions with respect to the controlling/rate-determining factors of the corrosion process. It is often discussed, that the electrolytic resistance of the concrete is the controlling factor and that the corrosion rates can subsequently be calculated from concrete resistivity. However, extensive research carried out by the authors has clearly demonstrated, that instead of concrete resistivity the resistance to cathodic polarisation normally is the controlling factor in the case of chloride-induced macrocell-corrosion. Generally, cathodic control can be related to restricted oxygen diffusion or activation control. In the present paper, these relationships are discussed in detail by results of numerous tests on the cathodic polarisation behaviour of passive reinforcement. For simple defined geometrical conditions simulating practical cases it is shown by a numerical analysis that the resistance to activation is normally the controlling factor for the corrosion rate and that oxygen diffusion has only to be taken into account, when the concrete is permanently water saturated or extremely dense. To verify, whether it is correct to estimate corrosion rates from resistivity data, tests should be carried out to check the influencing parameters on concrete resistivity and cathodic activation of passive steel surface areas.