Effect of Anodic and Cathodic Chloride Contents on the Macrocell Corrosion and Polarization Behavior of Reinforcing Steel

The effect of anodic and cathodic chloride contents on the macrocell corrosion and polarization behavior of reinforcing steel embedded in cement mortars were investigated and clarified. The results indicated that the higher cathodic chloride content could accelerate the cathodic reaction of cathode and make the controlling mode of macrocell corrosion changed from cathodic control to mixed control or anodic control. The higher anodic chloride content could accelerate the anodic reaction of anode and make the macrocell corrosion more controlled by cathode. These results will provide a guide to inhibiting the macrocell corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete, which are not only useful for engineers to design and construct the new marine reinforced concrete structures, but also are helpful for engineers to repair or rehabilitate the existing chloride contaminated reinforced concrete structures, in the condition of avoiding the adverse effect of macrocell corrosion induced by the non-uniform distribution of anodic and cathodic chloride.