The potency of zeolite and diatomite on the corrosive destruction of reinforcing steel in 1 M HNO3 environment

Abstract Considering the high neutralizing power of concrete, it is seen as the major material for preserving reinforcing steel. This is observed in reinforced concrete (RC) formation. It is obvious that under corrosive situations, concrete is subject to noticeable quality losses. The aim of this research is to conduct an inquiry on the disintegration of reinforcing steel subjected to 1 M HNO3 solution over 200 days. For this purpose, concrete samples were produced having three different formulations, which included the reference (pure Portland cement), 20% diatomite and 20% zeolite. Reinforcing steel was embedded into these concrete samples. Afterwards, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) approach was used to monitor the system every seven days. The results clearly revealed that long-term experiments are required for accurate electrochemical measurements. The addition of diatomite and zeolite protected the reinforcement better against corrosion. Although it loses its effectiveness over time, zeolite provided better resistance against corrosion than diatomite for the reinforcement bars in 1 M HNO3 solution.