Open Access

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are binders that can complement and partially substitute the current use of conventional cement. However, the present knowledge about how AAMs protect steel reinforcement in concrete elements is incomplete, and uncertainties exist regarding the application of electrochemical methods to investigate this issue. The present review by EFC WP11-Task Force ‘Corrosion of steel in alkali-activated materials’ demonstrates that important differences exist between AAMs and Portland cement, and between different classes of AAMs, which are mainly caused by differing pore solution compositions, and which affect the outcomes of electrochemical measurements. The high sulfide concentrations in blast furnace slag-based AAMs lead to distinct anodic polarisation curves, unusually low open circuit potentials, and low polarisation resistances, which might be incorrectly interpreted as indicating active corrosion of steel reinforcement. No systematic study of the influence of the steel–concrete interface on the susceptibility of steel to corrosion in AAMs is available. Less common electrochemical methods present an opportunity for future progress in the field.

Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBFS), a by-product of the iron-making process, has gained significant attention as a supplementary cementitious material and has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its remarkable properties. GGBFS can significantly reduce the environmental impact of cement production when it comes to building concrete structures. GGBFS can either be blended with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) (up to a 90% replacement), or it can be used in the production of alkali-activated materials (AAMs). However, a comprehensive understanding of the pore solution composition is necessary for understanding various aspects of cementitious materials and their durability, including corrosion behavior, passivation of steel, and resistance to deteriorative processes. In the present work, the pore solutions of seven different GGBFS-containing cements (alkali-activated slag, alkali-activated slag/fly ash blends, a hybrid alkaline cement, CEM III/C, and CEM III/B) were extracted and analysed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, ion chromatography, pH, redox potential, and conductivity measurements. For comparison, a Portland cement pore solution was analysed similarly. The Concentrations of reduced sulfur were noteworthy in all GGBFS-containing cements, particularly in alkali-activated cements, where concentrations were notably higher compared to standard cements. The redox potentials of the pore solutions were primarily dictated by the concentrations of reduced sulfur, although other factors may contribute. Additionally, sulfur species in the pore solutions had an impact on pH, electrical conductivity, and other properties pertinent to the corrosion of reinforcements.

It is well known that cement manufacture, including CaCO3 calcination and clinker formation, is associated with substantial energy consumption and significant greenhouse gas emissions. Alkali-activated binders (AAB) and concretes made from them can significantly contribute to reducing CO2 emissions caused by the construction industry. However, to what extent and for how long concretes made from AAB can protect the steel in reinforced concrete components from corrosion is still unclear. Unlike PC-based binders, AABs are made by reacting alkaline solutions with solid precursors such as fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). Therefore, steel reinforcement corrosion mechanisms in AAMs differ from PC-based binders. The present study aims to evaluate the corrosion behavior of steel rebar in alkali-activated materials (AAMs) synthetic pore solution with different chemical concentrations representing different GGBFS and Flay Ash based binders by performing electrochemical tests to measure the corrosion rate and corrosion potential of steel rebar. This information can be used to improve the design of AAMs in order to ensure a longer service life for these materials.

Steel corrosion in sulfide-containing solutions presents a challenge in a number of environments and appli¬cations, such as the kraft process, the oil and gas industry, and reinforced concrete structures. In concrete, sulfides are introduced by ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), which is a widespread component of standard cements and which can also be utilized in the production of alkali-activated materials (AAMs). However, a knowledge gap exists concerning the compositions of pore solutions in GGBFS-containing cements, especially regarding sulfur and its various species and understanding how these sulfur species affect the surface layer and the corrosion behavior of steel in such environments. The present study employed electrochemical impedance spec¬tros-copy to study the behavior of steel in synthetic solutions representing GGBFS-containing cements and AAMs. The electrochemical behavior of steel in sulfide-containing solutions differs from that observed in ordinary Portland cement solutions, generally exhibiting lower open circuit potentials and polarization resistances in the former environments. This suggests that the criteria or standards used to assess the probability of steel corrosion in Portland cement concrete are not applicable to GGBFS-containing concrete due to differences of their pore solution compositions.