TRM 259

TECHNICAL REFERENCE Rev 1

MANUAL Date 9/08

Civil & Structural
Page 1 of 3
CORROSION INHIBITORS FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE

INTRODUCTION

Corrosion inhibitors are a method of improving the durability of reinforced

concrete in environments affected by chlorides. Corrosion inhibitors act
by suppressing the electrochemical corrosion reactions that can occur on
the surface of the reinforcement due to chloride ingress.

CLASSIFICATION

There are two types of corrosion inhibitor for reinforced concrete:

• Integral (or cast-in) inhibitors are liquids or solids that are batched and mixed with the other
concrete ingredients as a preventative measure for new construction or repair work. Integral
corrosion inhibitors are usually based on calcium nitrite or amino alcohol.

• Migrating inhibitors are used in mature reinforced concrete structures that are showing signs
of reinforcement corrosion or need additional protection to inhibit future corrosion. They are
applied to the surface as liquids or solid plugs inserted in drilled holes, which migrate through the
concrete to the reinforcement. The most common commercially available migrating type is
based on amino alcohol bended with inorganic corrosion-retarding radicals such as monofluoro-
phosphate.

Figure 1: An integral corrosion inhibitor was used on this bridge

across the River Ouse near King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

© WSP Group
 TRM 259
TECHNICAL REFERENCE Rev 1

MANUAL Date 9/08

Civil & Structural
Page 2 of 3
CORROSION INHIBITORS FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE

SPECIFICATION

It should be noted that the inclusion of corrosion inhibitors in the mix is no substitute for good design,
detailing and construction practice. It is recommended that cast-in corrosion inhibiting admixtures
for use in fresh concrete should be:
• BBA (British Board of Agrement) certified or hold a similar approval.
• Proven to be suitable for use in conjunction with hydrophobic pore lining impregnants, such as
silanes.
3
• Applied at a dosage of approximately 10 litres/m of concrete for calcium nitrite-based
admixtures (with the calcium nitrite proportion at a minimum of 30%) or 3% by weight of cement
for amino alcohol-based admixtures.
• Proven by documentary evidence to significantly delay the inception of chloride-induced
corrosion when used at the suggested dosage.

The specification for migrating corrosion inhibitors should include:

• Requirements for concrete substrate preparation.
2
• The required rate of covage (eg 0.5 kg/m ) and the anticipated number of coats to achieve this.
• The minimum drying time between coats.

It is recommended that manufacturers’ advice is sought when specifying either corrosion inhibitor
type. See TRM 204 Aquariums – tanks and windows for an example of the use of corrosion
inhibitors.

APPLICATIONS

Guidance on the use of integral corrosion inhibitors in concrete bridges is given in Highways Agency,
Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, BA 57/01 Design for durability. Benefits are derived from the
use of corrosion inhibitors in concrete elements close to carriageways where elements will be
subjected to salt spray during winter (see figures 1 and 2). It notes that those elements will also
require the use of silane impregnation. BA 57/01 also implies that hydrophobic pore blocking
additives can be used to create dense concrete for extremely aggressive environments, see
TRM 181 Proprietary watertight concrete.

Equally important methods are the use of adequate cement and the production of a concrete which
could be use in this special case. These cement types are used currently:
• Portland cement
• Blast-furnace cement
• High-alumina cement.

Figure 2: Migrating corrosion

inhibitors were used on this mid-
1960s bridge spanning the M6
motorway in Cheshire, repassivating
the reinforcement and thus protecting
against future deterioration.

© WSP Group
 TRM 259
TECHNICAL REFERENCE Rev 1

MANUAL Date 9/08

Civil & Structural
Page 3 of 3
CORROSION INHIBITORS FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE

Migrating corrosion inhibitors may be useful for repair and maintenance purposes and for the
treatment of undamaged concrete where corrosion-induced damage is anticipated (The Concrete
Society). Structures other than bridges potentially exposed to chlorides include car park decks,
upon which cars may deposit de-icing salts from their wheels in winter, marine structures and those
in the coastal zone subjected to wind-blown chlorides. Application of corrosion inhibitors may be
considered for these locations.

WHOLE-LIFE COSTS

As corrosion inhibitors protect reinforcing steel from chloride-induced corrosion, they do not become
effective until chlorides have penetrated the cover concrete to the steel at sufficient concentration to
initiate corrosion in unprotected steel.

Integral corrosion inhibitors are incorporated throughout the full thickness of a concrete element,
even where reincorcement is not present and may be expected to increase the cost of the condrete
3
by 15-23/m . Migrating inhibitors are only applied to the concrete surface, but their long-term
2
effectiveness is not yet fully understood. Typical costs are of the order of 25/m .

REFERENCES AND LINKS

http://www.corrosionsource.com/technicallibrary/corrdoctors/Modules/Inhibitors/Frames.
Corrosion source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/corrosion_inhibitor
Wikipedia “corrosion inhibitor”

Current Practice Sheet No 139 – Concrete Bridge Development Group (WSP library ref STR/1195)

Highways Agency, Design for durability, 40 pp, BA 57/01 (clauses 5.25 to 5.28)

TRM 181 Proprietary watertight concrete

TRM 204 Aquariums – tanks and windows

KEYWORDS

Admixtures; amino alcohol; calcium nitrite; concrete; corrosion, durability; inhibitor.

Author: Simone Angerer (placement student), WSP Cantor Seinuk, London Smithfield
Sponsor: Group Technical Centre
Revision record:
9/08 First issue (rev 1)

© WSP Group