subject: Stainless Steel Reinforcement Bars An Ideal Strategy To Overcome Corrosion In Concrete Structure [print this page] Untimely or earlier than anticipated weakening of the cement concrete structures and buildings due to oxidization of reinforcement is rather challenging, both economically and technically. A research shows that numerous countries all around the world spend millions and millions of money every year for the repair of decaying infrastructures. In some cases, they have to replace the whole important structure as well. All these repairs and replacement work in public places or public transportation infrastructures such as bridges, highways, etc. can cause significant inconveniences as well as delays to both general public and industry, and can be considered as a big loss to the society.
The reason behind the oxidization or corrosion of reinforcement is the entry of chloride from water splashes and deicing salts from the structure. Generally all the structures are made up of carbon steel reinforcement in concrete, but due to the nature of carbon steel, they get easily corrode from chloride. As a result of corrosion, rust forms on this carbon steel reinforcement inside the concrete structure and occupies more volume on the metal then it was before. Hence, it creates a brute force that might exceed the ductile or elasticity strength of the concrete, which causes cracking and crumbling of the concrete structure until it is completely fallen apart.
This has addressed to the following five strategies to overcome the problem with corrosion:
1.Develop very dense concrete that can eliminate ingress or the entry of chloride into the structure.
2.Restrain corrosion through chemical compound or cathodic protection.
3.Create special coating on concrete surface.
4.Create non-metallic reinforcement substance.
5.Develop steel with high corrosion resistance.
The first three strategies were far too expensive and the fourth strategy is still in research & development phase. This left the final strategy which was feasible and comparatively less expensive compared to above three strategies.
The practical solution of developing steel with high corrosion resistance gave birth to use of stainless steel reinforcement bars. It was readily available in the market, but due to its slightly higher costs they were not used in construction. However, after realizing the total long term repairs or replacement costs, stainless steel reinforcement bars replaced carbon steel reinforcement, and are now commonly used in all constructions.
Stainless steel reinforcement bars are highly corrosion resistive and in addition to this, they have good strength and ductility properties. Furthermore, they are fatigue resistant and have good high as well as low temperature mechanical properties.
