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Electrochemical Characteristics and Equivalent Circuit Representation of Mortar-Coating-Steel Systems by EIS
NACE - International Corrosion Conference Series
  • Fujian Tang
  • Genda Chen, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Richard K. Brow, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Michael L. Koenigstein
Abstract

This paper summarizes an experimental study on the electrochemical characteristics of various mortarcoating-steel systems and on the equivalent electrical circuit modeling for their representative behaviors. Mortar cylinders with uncoated, enamel-coated, and fusion bonded epoxy (FBE)-coated steel bars were investigated in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution up to 244 days using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The microstructure of a mortar-coating-steel system was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the effects of water cement ratio and exposure condition were considered. SEM images showed a thin porous mill scale on the surface of uncoated steel bars, a 150 μm thick coating with air bubbles of enamel-coated bars, and a 300 μm thick coating with air bubbles distributed near the FBE-coated steel bars. EIS results indicated that the frequency ranges of mortar/coating matrix, passive film, and solution-steel interface can be completely separated for specimens with uncoated steel bars, and but not for specimens with enamel and FBE-coated steel bars. Moreover, the mortar-coating-steel systems can be modeled by an electrical circuit that consists of a series of components representing different material layers. The effect of water cement ratio on the evolution of impedance spectra was less significant than the effect of exposure conditions.

Meeting Name
Corrosion: Collaborate. Educate. Innovate. Mitigate. (2014: Mar. 9-13, San Antonio, TX)
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Second Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
  • Scanning electron microscopy, Electrochemical characteristics,
  • Equivalent electrical circuits,
  • Steel-concrete interface,
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2014 National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) International, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
3-1-2014
Publication Date
01 Mar 2014
Citation Information
Fujian Tang, Genda Chen, Richard K. Brow and Michael L. Koenigstein. "Electrochemical Characteristics and Equivalent Circuit Representation of Mortar-Coating-Steel Systems by EIS" NACE - International Corrosion Conference Series (2014) ISSN: 0361-4409
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard-brow/47/