Effect of additional protections on corrosion propagation in reinforced concrete

The durability of reinforced concrete structures is strongly influenced by the corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement, particularly in environments that promote carbonation- and chloride-induced corrosion. This thesis examines the effectiveness of various surface treatments—including hydrophobic, cementitious, and paint-based coatings—in mitigating the propagation of corrosion in reinforcing bars. To evaluate their performance, laboratory experiments were conducted on several series of reinforced carbonated concrete specimens, also artificially cracked and chloride-contaminated specimens. The specimens were subjected to accelerated cycles and atmospheric exposure. Key electrochemical parameters such as corrosion potential, electrical resistivity, and corrosion rate were regularly measured over time. Corrosion penetration and service life were also estimated for carbonated samples. The overall objective was to compare the protective performance of different coating systems and to evaluate their effectiveness in controlling the mechanisms. The results demonstrate that appropriate surface treatments can significantly reduce the propagation of corrosion and extend the service life of reinforced concrete structures, emphasizing the importance of proper protection strategies in durability design.

La durabilità delle strutture in calcestruzzo armato è fortemente influenzata dalla corrosione delle armature in acciaio, in particolare in ambienti che favoriscono la corrosione indotta dalla carbonatazione e dai cloruri. Questa tesi esamina l’efficacia di diversi trattamenti superficiali—tra cui rivestimenti hydrophobic, cementitious e paint—nel mitigare la propagazione della corrosione nelle barre di armatura.