Reflections on electrochemical rehabilitation methods for corroded reinforced concrete structures

Abstract

Electrochemical realkalinisation and electrochemical chloride removal have shown their capacity to eliminate, in just a few weeks, the causes of corrosion of reinforced concrete structures (RCS), and for this reason are currently receiving very special attention. This communication seeks to answer some fundamental questions that continue to arouse great controversy, which are summarized in the question: removing the causes of corrosion in RCS suffice to stop rusting? To this end an analysis is made of the responses of clean and precorroded electrodes in a solution that simulates the aqueous phase of the concrete pore network. According to the results obtained, the efficiency of electrochemical rehabilitation methods depends heavily on the degree of precorrosion of the rebars.