Electrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous media
Abstract Corrosion in carbonated concrete is an example of corrosion in dense porous media of tremendous socio-economic and scientific relevance. The widespread research endeavors to develop novel, environmentally friendly cements raise questions regarding their ability to protect the embedded steel...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2018-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-25794-x |
| _version_ | 1818405772627804160 |
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| author | Matteo Stefanoni Ueli M. Angst Bernhard Elsener |
| author_facet | Matteo Stefanoni Ueli M. Angst Bernhard Elsener |
| author_sort | Matteo Stefanoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Corrosion in carbonated concrete is an example of corrosion in dense porous media of tremendous socio-economic and scientific relevance. The widespread research endeavors to develop novel, environmentally friendly cements raise questions regarding their ability to protect the embedded steel from corrosion. Here, we propose a fundamentally new approach to explain the scientific mechanism of corrosion kinetics in dense porous media. The main strength of our model lies in its simplicity and in combining the capillary condensation theory with electrochemistry. This reveals that capillary condensation in the pore structure defines the electrochemically active steel surface, whose variability upon changes in exposure relative humidity is accountable for the wide variability in measured corrosion rates. We performed experiments that quantify this effect and find good agreement with the theory. Our findings are essential to devise predictive models for the corrosion performance, needed to guarantee the safety and sustainability of traditional and future cements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:01:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a294795edce7437887bbc2c92fc61094 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T09:01:22Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a294795edce7437887bbc2c92fc610942022-12-21T23:08:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222018-05-018111010.1038/s41598-018-25794-xElectrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous mediaMatteo Stefanoni0Ueli M. Angst1Bernhard Elsener2Institute for Building Materials, ETH ZurichInstitute for Building Materials, ETH ZurichInstitute for Building Materials, ETH ZurichAbstract Corrosion in carbonated concrete is an example of corrosion in dense porous media of tremendous socio-economic and scientific relevance. The widespread research endeavors to develop novel, environmentally friendly cements raise questions regarding their ability to protect the embedded steel from corrosion. Here, we propose a fundamentally new approach to explain the scientific mechanism of corrosion kinetics in dense porous media. The main strength of our model lies in its simplicity and in combining the capillary condensation theory with electrochemistry. This reveals that capillary condensation in the pore structure defines the electrochemically active steel surface, whose variability upon changes in exposure relative humidity is accountable for the wide variability in measured corrosion rates. We performed experiments that quantify this effect and find good agreement with the theory. Our findings are essential to devise predictive models for the corrosion performance, needed to guarantee the safety and sustainability of traditional and future cements.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-25794-x |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Stefanoni Ueli M. Angst Bernhard Elsener Electrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous media Scientific Reports |
| title | Electrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous media |
| title_full | Electrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous media |
| title_fullStr | Electrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous media |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous media |
| title_short | Electrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous media |
| title_sort | electrochemistry and capillary condensation theory reveal the mechanism of corrosion in dense porous media |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-25794-x |
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