Designing and Characterizing New Coating Materials to Increase the Corrosion Resistance of Steel Reinforcement Embedded in Concrete

A team comprised by Texas A&M University (TAMU) proposes a unique approach that will include the integration of materials sciences, infrastructure and corrosion science fundamentals and applications to characterize and select the corrosion mitigation methods for steel structure elements used in transportation applications. The proposal includes: (1) Characterize the performance of galvanized steel prepared varying the chemical compositions of the hot dipping bath; (2) Characterize the performance of a Zn Rich Epoxy coating formulated based on the optimal galvanized layer composition. (3) Characterize the corrosion control mechanisms (barrier coating vs cathodic protection) for corrosion of steel rebar embedded in concrete structures in aqueous solutions; (4) Characterize reinforced concrete (RC) elements with either corrosion control methods, and evaluate their performance to understand their influence on corrosion and its rates; and (5) Identify the most suitable and efficacy corrosion control strategy and quantify the uncertainties associated with methods for testing and monitoring corrosion of steel in RC elements. This proposal was formulated in response to the deterioration of infrastructure due to reinforcing steel and metallic assets suffering from corrosion, which has been recognized for several decades as a major technical and economic challenge in the United States. A recent cost-of-corrosion study by the Federal Highway Administration has estimated the annual cost of corrosion related to USA bridges to be approximately 30 billion, not including indirect costs incurred by the traveling public due to infrastructural closures. One particular aspect is the degradation of the elements of the cell naturally formed in different infrastructure assets made by steel materials under corrosive/environmental conditions. Due to the random distribution and interaction of the chemical species from the environment with the metallic structure, the generation of transport mechanisms and electrochemical reactions occur. The corrosion process at the metal/electrolyte interface can lead either to general dissolution or to a localized attack and decrease the durability/reliability of the structure under load and corrosive conditions.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 22STTAMU53

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $130000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)

  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Project Managers:

  Dhasmana, Heena

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M University, College Station

  318 Jack K. Williams Administration Building
  College Station, TX  United States  77843
• Principal Investigators:

  Castaneda, Homero

• Start Date: 20220401
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coatings; Corrosion; Corrosion protection; Galvanized metals; Reinforced concrete pavements; Reinforcing bars; Steel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01844952
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747106
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: May 9 2022 10:31AM