Inhibiting Action of Calcium Nitrite on Carbon Steel Rebars

Abstract

Corrosion rate studies were carried out on carbon steel rebar samples under different pH conditions and in the presence and absence of chloride ions in solution. A known amount of calcium nitrite was added as an inhibitor and the mechanism of inhibition was studied by tracking both the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the system. The studies indicate that there is a competition between the corrosion and passivation reactions, and the resulting open-circuit potential depends on the relative strength of the corroding and passivating environments. The corrosion rate depends to a great extent on the pH of the solution. Nitrite ions act as anodic inhibitors by increasing the rate of formation of a barrier oxide film. The protective action of the nitrite ions seems to be more pronounced in highly corroding environment. This is due to the mechanism of inhibition, which uses the product of the unwanted corrosion reaction and converts it into a favorable passivating one. For a given amount of chloride, a minimum threshold concentration of nitrite is essential for protecting the steel.