Investigation of some electrochemical phenomena induced during chloride migration test on cementitious materials

The authors wish to honour the late Jean-Michel LOCHE and his dedication to work in our research team. He died 21 January 2012 after a long illness.

Abstract

This paper investigates electrochemical phenomena induced during accelerated chloride diffusion tests using a migration cell. By monitoring of electrical current time evolution coupled with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, it was set that the electrical current measured between the two sides of cement-based samples during migration tests increases continually even after reaching steady state checked by a constant chloride flux at the downstream of the cell. This is found to be due to the decrease in the samples’ electrical impedance (resistance). Furthermore, the cell charge phenomenon which appears during polarisation was quantified through cell discharges in electrical resistors after polarisation.

Keywords:

• cement-based materials
• migration test
• chloride ions
• mercury intrusion porosimetry
• electrical current
• impedance spectroscopy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

The authors wish to honour the late Jean-Michel LOCHE and his dedication to work in our research team. He died 21 January 2012 after a long illness.