Objective Corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete structures is a worldwide problem and affects a large number of infrastructures. Two major causes connected to corrosion of reinforcing steel are the carbonation and chloride attack. Concrete carbonation produces a carbonated surface layer in which the pore solution pH value is depressed to near-neutral levels. A fall in pH to values below 10 at the steel can render the steel passive film thermodynamically unstable and thus cause steel corrosion. While chloride attack causes localised breakdown of the passive film that initially forms on steel as a result of the alkaline nature of the pore solution in concrete. The harmful chloride ions can be originated from the use of contaminated mix constituents or from the surrounding environment such as deicing salts or seawater. The corrosion of steel not only reduces the strength of reinforcement but also can lead to cracking and spalling of cover concrete because of the substantial volume increase that accompanies the transformation of iron to rust. To promote the effective application of reinforced concrete it is important to protect the reinforcing steel from corrosion during its service life. This proposal is to explore a new electrochemical remediation of reinforced concrete structures by combining conventional electrochemical processes, such as the electrochemical chloride removal for chloride contaminated concrete and the electrochemical realkalisation for carbonated concrete, with electrochemical nanoparticle injection. Using the new electrochemical processes, not only can they remove chlorides from concrete and increase alkalinity in concrete pore solution but also simultaneously inject nanoparticles into the concrete to enhance its mechanical properties as well as improve its porosity to stop the further penetration of chlorides and CO2 from its surrounding environment, and thus provide a permanent solution for concrete repair suffered from carbonation and chloride attack. Fields of science natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IRSES - Marie Curie Action "International Research Staff Exchange Scheme" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IRSES See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IRSES - International research staff exchange scheme (IRSES) Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Address Drake circus PL4 8AA Plymouth United Kingdom See on map Region South West (England) Devon Plymouth Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Linda Worsfold (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data Participants (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB Sweden EU contribution € 109 200,00 Address - 412 96 Goteborg See on map Region Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Holmstrand Magnus (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data POLITECNICO DI MILANO Italy EU contribution € 111 300,00 Address Piazza leonardo da vinci 32 20133 Milano See on map Region Nord-Ovest Lombardia Milano Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Franca Di Censo Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Other funding No data
