Sugar beets against corrosion

Every year several billion dollars are spent to repair and maintain reinforced concrete structures. Over time, the metal reinforcing bars used to improve the physical properties of concrete become susceptible to corrosion due to factors such as the presence of chloride and carbonation. There are several methods to mitigate corrosion of the steel rebars. These techniques include the use of sealants, cathodic protection and inhibitors. Organic corrosion inhibitors have been developed from the fermentation products of sugar beets. One of the main features of these new products is their ability to migrate through concrete and reach the corroding metals. A reduction of the corrosion rate is obtained once the inhibitors access the surface of the metal. This work presents test results from studies of the effectiveness of these environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors. Field applications are also reviewed.