The effect of electrical current flow on cement-based microstructure: bulk matrix alterations within cathodic protection in reinforced concrete

Author(s): D.A. Koleva, K. van Breugel, Jie Hu
Paper category: Conference
Book title: 2nd International conference on Microstructural-related Durability of Cementitious Composites
Editor(s): Guang Ye, K. Van Breugel, Wei Sun, Changwen Miao
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-129-2
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-123-0
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Pages: 1143 - 1152
Total Pages: 9
Language: English

Abstract: 
This work reports on the influence of electrochemical protection techniques on the bulk matrix of cement-based materials. The focus is on impressed current Cathodic Protection (CP). The CP techniques mainly aim at affecting the steel reinforcement by means of cathodic polarization, thus preventing or minimizing steel corrosion.

The present contribution summarizes the effect of CP current flow (in two regimes of conventional CP and pulse CP) on concrete microstructure, reviewing four different cases with respect to concrete age and starting time of the CP regimes. The paper discusses the alterations of the cement matrix when CP was applied at hydration stage “0” i.e. immediately after casting; modifications of the bulk matrix and ITZs when CP was applied at 30 or 60 days hydration age; and finally, the long-term performance of the concrete bulk matrix with respect to alterations caused by CP current flow for a case of a concrete structure, where the concrete age is approx. 40 years and CP is running for more than 10 years.

Online publication: 2013
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00