Effects of silica fume and steel fiber on chloride ion penetration and corrosion behavior of cement-based composites

This project was aimed to evaluate the chloride permeability and corrosion behavior of cement-based composites which comprised fibers and silica fume in the mixes. Resistivity, polarization resistance, ponding and rapid chloride penetration results of specimens were obtained through tests. Test results indicate that resistivity, open circuit potentials and direct current polarization of specimens with w/b ratio of 0.35 are higher than those of specimens with w/b ratio of 0.55. For length-diameter ratio of 65, resistivity and direct current polarization of specimens with fiber length of 35 mm were similar to those of 60 mm. In addition, the open circuit potentials of specimens with fiber length of 60 mm were slightly higher that those of 35 mm. The resistivity decreased with increasing steel fiber content, and the open circuit potential and direct current polarization increased with increasing steel fiber content. The specimens containing silica fume were found to provide higher resistivity, open circuit potentials and direct current polarization than the control specimens. The incorporation of steel fiber and silica fume in composites achieved more significantly decreases in resistivity and increases in direct current polarization than steel fiber composites or silica fume composites. The penetration depth and six-hour total charge passed of specimens for w/b ratio of 0.35 were lower than those for w/b ratio of 0.55. For length-diameter ratio of 65, the penetration depth of specimens for fiber length of 35 mm was similar to that of 60 mm. The penetration depth decreased with increased steel fiber content in the composites. By regression analysis, a good correlation between open circuit potential and direct current polarization, and chloride penetration depth and direct current polarization.