Use of polypropylene fibres to increase the resistance of reinforcement to chloride corrosion in concretes

Abstract

Concrete with the addition of polypropylene fibres is more cohesive and has better adhesion, deformability and tightness because the fibres “bind” the concrete matrix together and prevent large pores from forming in the concrete mix and limit the formation and spread of shrinkage cracks. Therefore, it can be assumed that polypropylene fibres affect the effectiveness of the concrete cover as a layer protecting steel bars against corrosion. This article presents the results of tests allowing us to estimate the effect of addition of polypropylene fibres on the reduction of reinforcing bars corrosion in concrete caused by the action of chlorides. Evaluation of the degree of corrosion of the reinforcement was analysed using the electrochemical polarisation galvanostatic pulse technique. The use of such a method allowed for the quantitative estimation of the effect of the addition of polypropylene fibre on the reduction of corrosion activity of the reinforcement in concrete.

Keywords

• concrete
• polypropylene fibres
• rebar
• chloride corrosion