Crevice corrosion of reinforcing steel in carbonated simulated concrete pore solutions contaminated by chloride

The crevice corrosion of the reinforcing steel in the carbonated simulated concrete pore solutions (SCPSs) containing 0.04 mol/L chloride was investigated. In comparison, the steel without crevice covered on its surface was also studied. Results showed that the crevice corrosion in the uncarbonated SCPS was not triggered and the steel remained passivity by suppressing the anodic dissolution in the crevice interior. As SCPS was carbonated to have pH values of 10.5 and 11.5, the crevice corrosion was easier to be activated than the widely reported pitting corrosion owing to the rapid oxygen depletion within the crevice, but the crevice corrosion damage might be alleviated to a certain extent due to the relative compact surface film formed inside the crevice. The further carbonation led to the activation dissolution of both the crevice interior and exterior, causing the more serious corrosion damage. Corrosion process of the crevice corrosion was systematically analyzed by combining the electrochemical measurement results and Evens polarization diagram.