Application of combined electrochemical treatments to reinforced concrete: Electrochemical chloride extraction plus cathodic protection

Abstract It has been studied the possibility of using a graphite–cement paste anode for combined treatments of electrochemical chloride extraction plus cathodic protection on reinforced concrete elements. These treatments would be interesting in cases of structures heavily contaminated with chlorides and continuously exposed to a harsh chloride environment. It has been shown that, in the experimental conditions of this work, the anode is not damaged during the electrochemical chloride extraction step. The application of a previous chloride extraction step allows working with a lower current density at the cathodic protection step, which reduces the risk of damages of the anodic system. A chloride barrier effect parameter has been defined, based on the reduction of the chloride uptake by concrete, due to cathodic protection action, referred to the chloride uptake of the reference (not treated) specimens. The values of the chloride barrier effect parameter found in this work are about 20%.