ASSESSMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE PARAMETERS IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CHLORIDE EXTRACTION (ECE)

The representative parameters of ECE and the side effects were determined experimentally. The experimental program on cubic samples investigates chloride and alkali concentration, chloride removal efficiency, transference number, half-cell potential and possible bond strength degradation. Test variables were chloride concentration and duration of treatment. A Reinforced Concrete (RC) slab was tested to evaluate the ECE performance in a structural element. Tests results indicate that chloride concentration around rebars reduces to about 0.4 after 6 to 8 weeks of treatment. Half-cell potential shows that corrosion activities of the steel reinforcement were stopped 8 weeks after the end of treatment. Chloride removal efficiency hardly reached to 60% after 8 weeks of ECE. Bond strength in specimens with and without transverse reinforcement was reduced by 29-44% and 19-27% at the end of the treatment, respectively. Test results of the RC slab were also compatible with those obtained for cubic test samples, thereby confirm the capability of applying ECE to real structures.

Keywords:

Corrosion , Electrochemical Properties , Durability , Chloride , Bond Strength