subject: Cost-effective And Corrosion Resistant Stainless Steel Rebar For Construction Projects [print this page] Today, stainless steel rebar is being extensively used to reinforce highways, tunnels, buildings, bridges, and other construction projects. It provides better protection in corrosive conditions where carbon steel rebars usually fail.
Cement concrete have a high compression and weak tension properties, and in order to compensate this imbalance, a rebar is cast into the concrete to provide reinforcement to the structure. Nevertheless, despite concretes strong compression; natural elements like oxygen and chloride can easily penetrate and corrodes the carbon steel rebar. The corrosion not only weakens the steel, but the powdery rust formed because of the corrosion puts tremendous pressure on the concrete, which results in cracks and spalling in the structure. This can cause a hazardous situation, which requires extensive repairs, or sometimes replacement of the whole structure.
To address such situation that results in costly repairs or replacements, the natural elements need to be controlled or the material of rebar needs to be changed. Controlling the natural elements i.e. oxygen and chloride to penetrate the concrete is difficult and very expensive. Generally, chemical agents like concrete sealers, acrylic membranes, and corrosion inhibitors are used to prevent oxygen and chloride to penetrate concrete. Sometimes, thick concrete layer is also applied to protect rebar from natural element. Using these methods to prevent corrosion requires frequent application, hence, proving it to be expensive and time consuming.
The only feasible option to overcome corrosion is to change the material of the rebar with something more corrosion resistant alloy such as stainless steel. The stainless steel is strong, corrosion resistant, and more importantly a cost-effective alloy. The use of stainless steel rebars in concrete structure will perform the same role as of carbon steel reinforcing bars, but it will prevent corrosion in the structure and has a long life. The common life of stainless steel reinforcing bar is up to 125 years, which helps reduce frequent repairs and replacement costs.
Stainless steel rebars are widely used today not only because of its properties to resist corrosion, but also because of its several advantages over carbon steel. Some of the advantages of the stainless steel reinforcement bar are as follows:
1. It has better tensile strength that exceeds carbon steel.
2. It is resistance to corrosion even in highly corrosive environment such as coastal areas.
3. It is available with both magnetic and nonmagnetic properties, as per the requirement.
4. It has a good welding ability.
5. It performs well even in high as well as low temperature.
6. It is inexpensive and can be easily transported to anywhere.
7. Even if it is cut or cracked, no corrosion will be formed on that particular part.
