Evaluation of Multiple Corrosion Protection Systems and Corrosion Inhibitors for Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks

Abstract

The corrosion performance of different corrosion protection systems is evaluated using the mortar-wrapped rapid macrocell test, bench-scale tests (the Southern Exposure, cracked beam, and ASTM G109 tests), and field tests. The systems include conventional steel with three different corrosion inhibitors (DCI-S, Hycrete, and Rheocrete), epoxy-coated reinforcement with three different corrosion inhibitors and ECR with a primer coating containing microencapsulated calcium nitrite, multiple-coated reinforcement with a zinc layer underlying an epoxy coating, ECR with zinc chromate pretreatment before application of the epoxy coating to improve adhesion between the epoxy and the underlying steel, ECR with improved adhesion epoxy coatings, and pickled 2205 duplex stainless steel. Conventional steel in concretes with two different water-cement ratios (0.45 and 0.35) is also tested. Of these systems, specimens containing conventional steel or conventional epoxy-coated steel serve as controls. The critical chloride thresholds of conventional steel in concrete with different corrosion inhibitors and zinc-coated reinforcement are determined. The results of the tests are used in an economic analysis of bridge decks containing different corrosion protection systems over a design life of 75 years. The results indicate that a reduced water-cement ratio improves the corrosion resistance of conventional steel in uncracked concrete compared to the same steel in concrete with a higher water-cement ratio. The use of a corrosion inhibitor improves the corrosion resistance of conventional steel in both cracked and uncracked concrete and delays the onset of corrosion in uncracked concrete, but provides only a very limited improvement in the corrosion resistance of epoxy-coated reinforcement due to the high corrosion resistance provided by the epoxy coating itself. Based on results in the field tests, the epoxy-coated bars with a primer containing microencapsulated calcium nitrite show no improvement in the corrosion resistance compared to conventional epoxy-coated reinforcement. Increased adhesion between the epoxy coating and reinforcing steel provides no improvement in the corrosion resistance of epoxy-coated reinforcement. The corrosion losses for multiple-coated reinforcement are comparable with those of conventional epoxy-coated reinforcement in the field tests in uncracked and cracked concrete. Corrosion potential measurements show that the zinc is corroded preferentially, providing protection for the underlying steel. Pickled 2205 stainless steel demonstrates excellent corrosion resistance, and no corrosion activity is observed for the pickled 2205 stainless steel in bridge decks, or in the SE, CB, or field test specimens after four years. ECR, ECR with increased adhesion, and pickled 2205 stainless steel are the most cost-effective corrosion protection systems based on the economic analyses of a 216-mm (8.5-in.) thick bridge deck over a 75-year design life.