The Influence of Graded Amount of Potassium Permanganate on Corrosion of Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel in Simulated Concrete Pore Solutions

Abstract

This paper evaluates the amount of KMnO₄ in simulated concrete pore solution (pH 12.8) on the corrosion behaviour of hot-dip galvanized steel (HDG). In the range of used MnO₄^- (10^-4, 10^-3, 10^-2 mol·L^-1), corrosion behaviour is examined with regard to hydrogen evolution and composition (protective barrier properties) of forming corrosion products. The corrosion behaviour of HDG samples is evaluated using R_p/E_corr and EIS. The composition of corrosion products is evaluated using SEM, XRD, XPS and AAS. The effective MnO₄^- ion concentration to prevent the corrosion of coating with hydrogen evolution is 10^-3 mol·L^-1; lower concentrations only prolong the time to passivation (corrosion with hydrogen evolution). The highest used MnO₄^- concentration ensures corrosion behaviour without hydrogen evolution but also leads to the formation of less-protective amorphous corrosion products rich in Mn^II/Mn^III phases.

Keywords: concrete; corrosion; hot-dip galvanized steel; hydrogen evolution; permanganate; reinforcement.