Steel protection capacity of polymeric based cement mortars against chloride and carbonation attacks studied using electrochemical polarization resistance

This work analyzes the protection capacity of modified Portland cement mortar with polymers: styrene butadiene, acrylic latex with reinforced plastic fibres and acrylic latex with silica fume, using the electrochemical polarization resistance (Rp) technique to monitor the behaviour of steel bars embedded in the specimens, when placed in environments with CO2 and chloride. Results indicate that only chemical, physical and mechanical characterizations are not sufficient to classify these materials from the point of view of protection against aggressive agents. There is evidence that material performance depends on workability, chemical composition of squeezed pore solution in addition to the porosity and resistivity which have an important role in the protection against the corrosion of steel bars. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved