Investigation of Corrosion Behaviour of Mild Steel Embedded in Geopolymer Paste with Curing and Non-Curing Process

Abstract

This research was conducted to examine the corrosion behaviour of mild steel bar embedded in geopolymer paste based fly ash Class F during curing and non-curing process. The geopolymer paste was fabricated by blending in the fly ash with alkaline activators (NaOH solution with molarity of 12 M, 2.5 ratio of solution Na2SiO3/NaOH). The paste was produced in 50 mm × 50 mm × 50 mm mould where the mild steel bar of 100 mm (length) × 12 mm (diameter) was embedded at the center of geopolymer paste. This is to comprehend the corrosion behaviour of mild steel embedded in geopolymer paste with and without curing process. Process of curing is carried out for 24 hours at a temperature of 60°C in oven. While on the contrary, the non-curing process will only be leave at room temperature. Both samples were tested after 28 days of curing to determine the corrosion behaviour, phase analysis and morphology analysis. In accordance with the morphology analysis, it shows that the fly ash was totally reacted with alkaline solutions in curing geopolymer paste sample while the non-curing geopolymer paste has shown the unreacted fly ash with high number of pores. The phase analysis of mild steel embedded in this geopolymer paste during curing and without curing process has proven that the presence of new crystallographic peak which also known as passive layer occurred. The potential values result by OCP testing shows the curing sample has highest potential values as compared to the non-curing sample ones.

Keywords

• corrosion behaviour
• curing and non-curing
• geopolymer paste
• mild steel
• passivity region