In this study, the ability of lithium nitrite and amino alcohol inhibitors to provide corrosion protection to reinforcing steel was investigated. Two types of specimens-reinforcing steel and a reinforced concrete prism that were exposed to chloride ion levels resembling the chloride attack environment-were prepared. An autoclave accelerated corrosion test was then conducted. The variables tested included the chloride-ion concentration and molar ratios of anti-corrosion ingredients in a CaOH₂-saturated aqueous solution that simulated a cement-pore solution. A concentration of 25% was used for the lithium nitrite inhibitor LiNO₂, and an 80% solution of dimethyl ethanolamine ((CH₃)₂NCH₂CH₂OH, hereinafter DMEA) was used for the amino alcohol inhibitor. The test results indicated that the lithium nitrite inhibitor displayed anti-corrosion properties at a molar ratio of inhibitor of ≥0.6; the amino alcohol inhibitor also displayed anti-corrosion properties at molar ratios of inhibitor greater than approximately 0.3.
Keywords: amino alcohol inhibitor; electrochemical evaluation; reinforced concrete; reinforcing steel corrosion.