Analysis of naturally-generated corrosion products due to chlorides in 20-year old reinforced concrete: An elastic modulus-mineralogy characterization
Emanuele Rossi, Hongzhi Zhang, Santiago J. García, Johan C. Bijleveld, Timo G. Nijland, Oğuzhan Çopuroğlu, R.B. Polder, Branko Šavija
Abstract
The elastic modulus of corrosion product (Ecp) has been reported with significant variations in the literature. This study aims to investigate the Ecp of naturally-generated chloride-induced corrosion products formed in different concrete mixes. Microstructural characterization was conducted through nano-indentation, electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The corrosion products were mainly composed of a goethite matrix with portions of maghemite, independently of the concrete composition. Microscopic analysis suggest that layers of corrosion products grow at different times and under different physico-chemical conditions. Our measurements showed that Ecp varied between 80−100 GPa, which can be suggested for numerical models of corrosion induced cracking.