Construction and Building Materials 40 (2013) 710718

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Construction and Building Materials

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat

Inuence of cement type in reinforcement corrosion of mortars under action

of chlorides
Victor Correia de Oliveira Pereira a,, Eliana Cristina Barreto Monteiro a,b, Kalline da Silva Almeida a
a
b

Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil

Department of Civil Engineering, Catholic University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil

h i g h l i g h t s
" Increasing the curing period has improved the cement performance.
" Watercement ratio presented itself as the most important factor to increase the durability, followed by the cement type.
" The CPIII-40 cement had the best performance with respect to corrosion by chloride ions to both watercement ratios studied.
" To increase the durability in structures the cement to be used must be specied according to environmental conditions.

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 18 April 2012
Received in revised form 17 October 2012
Accepted 22 November 2012
Available online 25 December 2012
Keywords:
Corrosion
Chloride ions
Durability
Cement

a b s t r a c t
In addition to the technological and environmental factors, the corrosion caused by chloride ions is
strongly inuenced by the type of cement used in concrete; however, currently, cement is manufactured
and specied without taking into account its resistance to the action of aggressive agents. Given this context, a study on the protective capacity of some types of cement (CPII-Z-32, CPIII-40 and CPIV-32) was
conducted regarding the reinforcement structure under the action of chloride ions. The specimen molded
with CPIII-40 cement clearly showed high resistance to corrosion caused by chloride ions, high compressive strength, and low capillary absorption.
2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Concrete represents the most suited building material to structures, surpassing alternatives, also viable, such as steel and wood
[1]. For a long time, it was believed that the durability of this material was limitless; however, during the decades of 1980 and 1990,
the initial perception on durability was changed with the advent of
pathological manifestations that caused signicant and frequent
damage to structures [2].
Reinforcement corrosion, one of the main causes of deterioration of reinforced concrete structures, can be dened as an electrochemical process that causes the degradation (oxidation) of
concrete steel [3]. In advanced stages, it can compromise safety
of the structure and may lead to the collapse of the affected concrete structures [4].

Corresponding author. Address: R. Des. Capistrano de Moraes e Silva, n. 376, San

Martin, Recife, PE, CEP 50761-090. Tel.: +55 81 3229 9877, mobile: +55 81 9126
5933.
E-mail address: victor.napster@gmail.com (V.C.O. Pereira).
0950-0618/$ - see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.11.050

The literature on durability of reinforced concrete structures

has considered corrosion initiated by chloride ions as the most severe attack and the leading cause of premature corrosion in reinforced concrete structures [511].
Various technological aspects of concrete (water/cement ratio;
particle size distribution; chemical composition) contribute to
reducing voids and increasing the compactness of concrete, thus
reducing the transport of aggressive agents to the structure interior.
It is widely recognized that the corrosion of steel in concrete induced by chloride ions can lead to a rapid deterioration of reinforced
concrete structures. This type of corrosion is inuenced by several
factors, such as pH, concentration of tricalcium aluminate (C3A) in
cement, water/cement ratio, cement content, and concrete cover.
The presence of a critical concentration of chloride ions in contact
with the reinforcement will cause its depassivation, paving the
way to the corrosion process, which, after corrosion initiation, will
contribute to the loss of the structure mechanical performance.
The current Brazilian standard NBR ABNT 6118:2007 (Project of
concrete structures) has followed the international tendency, since
it has specied levels of environmental aggressiveness; such
detailing seeks, however, to ensure durability only through deni-

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V.C.O. Pereira et al. / Construction and Building Materials 40 (2013) 710718

tion of maximum water/cement ratio (w/c), minimum coatings,

and minimum compressive strength, not taking into consideration
the type of cement used and the minimum service life the structure should reach [12].
The partial replacement of cement for products such as blast
furnace slag and pozzolanic materials leads to the benecial effects
of reinforced concrete structures [13,14], especially when it comes
to protection against chloride-induced corrosion of steel reinforcement [15,16]. The reduction in the diffusivity/permeability is a major purpose of using these products, particularly for chloride ion
transportation [13,17,18]; besides increasing the resistivity of the
concrete [19]. In previous work, it was noted that the reinforcement corrosion initiated by chloride ions depends fundamentally
on the chemical composition of the cement used for the manufacture of mortars and concretes [11,2023].
Due to this it is necessary to study the inuence of type of cement used for making mortar and concrete taking into consideration the particularities of the cements produced.
In view of the aforementioned, the present work aims to compare the protective capacity of some types of cement in Northeastern Brazil, CPII-Z-32 (Portland Composite Cement with Pozzolans),
CPIII-40 (Portland Blast furnace Cement), and CPIV-32 (Portland
Pozzolanic Cement), as the reinforcement corrosion under the action of chloride ions, which primarily depends on the chemical
composition of this material. The results presented here are part
of a dissertation by Pereira [24] and will be useful for the concrete
technologists to specify correctly the type of cement to be used on
structures placed in potentially aggressive environments due to
the presence of chloride ions.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Experimental plan
A full factorial design was carried out in order to investigate concomitantly the
effects of multiple variables and their interactions in a response variable.
Thus, the independent or explanatory variables (type of cement, water/cement
ratio and curing period) are called factors, while the three types of cement used
(CPII-Z-32, CPIII-40 and CPIV-32), the two water/cement ratios (0.4 and 0.7), and
two curing periods (728 days) are the corresponding levels to each factor (Table 1).
In order to achieve the proposed objectives, capillary water absorption tests,
compressive strength and accelerated corrosion, which are treated as dependent
or response variables, were performed (Table 2). The water absorption test was carried out, since the penetration of water inuences directly on the durability of reinforced concrete structure exposed to chloride contaminated environment. The
compressive strength test is of signicant importance, since other properties of concrete and mortar are directly related to this parameter. To corrosive process evaluation, an accelerated corrosion test was conducted, and the technique of corrosion
electrochemical potential was used.
Test specimens were molded using the three types of cement chosen to be analyzed (CPII-Z-32, CPIII-40 and CPIV-32); two water/cement ratios with signicant
variation (0.4 and 0.7) to evaluate the performance of cements in different microstructural conditions, and two curing periods usually applied (728 days) [25,26].
The features were dened by the determination index of mortar normal consistency
test in accordance with the procedures presented by the Brazilian standard NBR
ABNT 7215:1997 [25]. Table 3 shows the denition of the series used in the study.

Table 1
Factors (explanatory variables) and the corresponding levels to each factor.
Factors

Levels

Type of Portland cement

CPII-Z-32
CPIII-40
CPIV-32
0.7
0.4
7 days
28 days

Water/cement ratio
Curing period

Table 2
Dependent variables and the corresponding levels to each factor.
Dependent variables
Corrosion evaluation
Mortar properties evaluation

Corrosion potential (ecorr)

Capillary absorption
Compressive strength

2.2. Materials
The physical and chemical properties of the three cements used are shown in
Table 4. Table 4 also shows the limits specied by the Brazilian standards of the cement used. CPII Z-32 and CPIV 32 had pozzolanic material in their composition, also
called natural pozzolan from volcanic rock, in levels of 1243%, respectively. There
was a percentage of 67% of blast furnace slag in the composition of CPIII-40.
The steel reinforcement used in prismatic specimens for electrochemical measurements of corrosion potential was the CA-60 class (reinforcing steel with ow
resistance characteristic of 600 MPa) with 5 mm diameter.

2.3. Test procedures

The additional tests (water absorption, compressive strength) were performed
aiming the understanding and interpretation of the accelerated corrosion test.

2.3.1. Capillary water absorption

The molding of specimens for water absorption test was carried out according
to the Brazilian Standard NBR ABNT 7215:1997 [25], molding, therefore, cylindrical
mortar specimens of 50 mm diameter and 100 mm tall. After molding, all specimens had the superior surface protected with a glass plate and remained in a
wet chamber (thermally insulated, climate-controlled environment, temperature
23 2 C, tted with shelves for storing specimens and water sprinklers to keep
the relative humidity P95%) for a period of 24 h, then they were de-molded. Afterwards, the samples were kept in a wet chamber until the desired age (7 or 28 days).
Before starting the testing, the specimens were dried in an oven at a temperature of
(105 5)C until constant mass was obtained. After reaching constant mass, they
were cooled down at a laboratory environment (relative humidity P65% and temperature 23 2 C) for 24 h.
The methodology adopted in the experimental program was based on the Brazilian Standard ABNT NBR 9779:1995 [27]; to do so, three mortar cylindrical specimens were tested for each combination of independent variables. During the
testing, the water level was kept constant, 5 1 mm above the lower surface of
the specimens.
The absorption was monitored for 72 h in accordance with the Brazilian Standard ABNT NBR 9779:1995 [27], from the weighing of specimens. It is noteworthy
that, in addition to the measurements xed by the standard after 3 h, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h,
and 72 h; the weight evolution was also monitored after 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and
5 h, for it is during the early hours when the highest capillary absorption speed
occurs.

2.3.2. Compressive strength

The principle of the procedure of molding and performance of testing in itself is
described on the ABNT NBR 7215:1997 [25]. To determine the strength, four mortar
test specimens were molded and conveniently capped with sulfur in order to represent each series in the research; the equipment used has a upload speed of
0,45 0,15 MPa/s. All the test specimens were subject to the curing in a moist

Table 3
Determination of the series.
Series

Type of
cement

w/c
ratio

Curing
period

Feature

Cement content
(kg/m3)

A1
A2
B1
B2
C1
C2
D1
D2
E1
E2
F1
F2

CPII-Z-32
CPII-Z-32
CPII-Z-32
CPII-Z-32
CPIII-40
CPIII-40
CPIII-40
CPIII-40
CPIV-32
CPIV-32
CPIV-32
CPIV-32

0.7
0.7
0.4
0.4
0.7
0.7
0.4
0.4
0.7
0.7
0.4
0.4

7
28
7
28
7
28
7
28
7
28
7
28

1:3.0
1:3.0
1:1.3
1:1.3
1:3.0
1:3.0
1:1.1
1:1.1
1:3.0
1:3.0
1:1.0
1:1.0

463
463
821
821
463
463
875
875
463
463
905
905

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V.C.O. Pereira et al. / Construction and Building Materials 40 (2013) 710718

Table 4
Properties of Portland cement.
CPIII
Limits
40
ABNT NBR
11578:1991

Limits
ABNT NBR
5736:1991

CPII
Z-32

Heat loss
Silica (SiO2)
Aluminum
oxide
(Al2O3)
Iron oxide
(Fe2O3)
Calcium oxide
(CaO)
Free calcium
oxide (CaO)
Magnesium
oxide (MgO)
Trioxide sulfate
(SO3)
Sodium oxide
(Na2O)
Potassium
oxide (K2O)
Insoluble
residue
Carbon dioxide
(CO2)
Specic mass
(g/cm3)
Specic area
(m2/kg)

5.44 66.5
23.99 N.S.
4.70 N.S.

3.83 64.5
20.98 N.S.
4.91 N.S.

4.48 64.5
32.37 N.S.
5.09 N.S.

2.46

3.75

2.29

N.S.

Limits
ABNT NBR
5735:1991

CPIV
32

Chemical
determinations
(%)

N.S.

N.S.

53.41 N.S.

59.37 N.S.

46.55 N.S.

0.80

N.S.

0.61

N.S.

0.78

N.S.

3.98

66.5

3.78

N.S.

3.54

66.5

3.26

64.0

2.29

64.0

3.17

64.0

0.14

N.S.

0.03

N.S.

0.15

N.S.

1.65

N.S.

0.42

N.S.

1.46

N.S.

14.34 616.0

0.88

61.5

25.77 N.S.

4.02

65.0

2.88

63.0

2.79

63.0

2.84

N.S.

2.90

N.S.

2.82

N.S.

470

P260

606

N.S.

560

N.S.

tant chloride salt to steel corrosion in reinforced concrete structures, because it is

present in major situations of aggression from external contamination, such as marine environment [5].
Once properly cured and dried, the specimens were submitted to drying and
wetting half-cycles. At drying condition, the specimens are arranged in a ventilated
oven, keeping the temperature at 50 C. The partially submerged condition is to
maintain the level of solution of the container in a position which corresponds to
half of the height of the bar exposure area. Before the onset of the cycling, the rst
measuring of the corrosion potential was held, and then measurements after each
half-cycle were carried out.
In order to enable data analysis, after each half-cycle, calculation of the average
potential measurements values obtained in each of the eight built-in bars in four
specimens of each series was performed. Based on the results of the averages, the
evaluation of the corrosion potential in the specimens was performed using the
parameters set forth in ASTM C 876 [34] for the coppercopper sulfate reference
electrode (CSE) presented in Table 5, which indicates the corrosion probability in
the reinforced concrete structures.

3. Result and discussion

3.1. Capillary water absorption

N.S.- no specication.

chamber till the age of disrupting. Test specimens from series 1 (A1, B1, C1, D1,
E1, and F1) were broken within 7 days, whereas the series 2 (A2, B2, C2, D2, E2,
and F2), within 28 days.

2.3.3. Accelerated corrosion

For the accelerated corrosion test, prismatic mortar specimens were made
according to the methodology proposed by Andrade et al. [28] and adapted by
Monteiro [29], with dimensions of 60  80  25 mm, two steel reinforcement bars
of 5 mm in diameter, 100 mm long, and 10 mm coatings, as shown in Fig. 1. Before
molding the specimens, the bars were submitted to the cleaning procedure described on ASTM G1-03 [30]. The mold used was made from plastics, which facilitates the specimens de-molding and avoids the use of release agents, possible
intervening factor in the results.
Even before the molding, the bar area exposed to attack had been limited by
placing tape at its ends (Fig. 1), settling a well-dened area exposed to corrosion
representing the anodic region of the bar.
For each combination, four specimens were made by varying the water/cement
ratio (0.4 and 0.7) and the curing period (728 days). The specimens were cured in a
wet chamber (relative humidity P95% and temperature 23 2 C); thereafter, they
were kept in a laboratory environment until they presented constant mass. They
were then subjected to accelerated corrosion test.
The specimens dimension was the reason for using the mortar instead of concrete; the latter could hinder the use of coarse aggregate, and create difculties during the molding process. Studies conducted by Winslow and Liu [31] have shown
that the mortar paste has a pore structure similar to the pore structure in concrete
paste. Therefore, it can be assumed that the porous structure of mortar paste may
have been a suitable model to the study of the concrete paste porosity, although
there may be some inuence in the transition zone.
Flexible cables were connected to the free end of the reinforcement, to provide
electrical connection during the corrosion potential testing. This connection was
shielded with tape and on the tape, epoxy resin was applied (Fig. 1). Epoxy resin
has been used to hamper the penetration of aggressive agents through the upper
surface of the specimens and protect the top of the reinforcement.
To accelerate the corrosion process, the procedure proposed by Monteiro [29]
consisting of semi-cycles of drying (5 days) and partial immersion in aqueous solution with 5% NaCl (2 days) was used because it allows the aggressive agents transport by both capillary absorption, and the ingress of chlorides by diffusion. This
methodology has been chosen for providing the performance of the main mechanisms of chlorides conveyance (capillarity absorption by ionic diffusion) in concrete
[8,32] and by the fact that these two mechanisms have governed the effects on drying and wetting cyclic tests [33]. In addition, the sodium chloride is the most impor-

Fig. 2 shows results for all series with w/c ratio equals to 0.7.
The graph indicates that the specimens cured for 28 days absorbed
less water per unit area, when compared with those cured for
7 days and molded with the same type of cement. The results indicate a decrease in water absorption up to 13.9% in the series that
extended the curing period. This result is due to improvement of
micro-structure of specimen provided by prolonging the curing
period.
The results conrm the benecial effect of additions to reduce
the water absorption for both curing ages studied, since the use
of compound cement with larger amounts of mineral additions
(CPIII-40 and CPIV-32) have reduced about 1134% of water
absorption by capillarity in relation to CPII-Z-32. Moreover, the
CPIII-40 cement may be seen as the most efcient in preventing
the penetration of water by capillarity in the mortar.
Fig. 3 shows results for all series that used w/c ratio equals to
0.4. For the series with w/c ratio 0.4, it is also observed that by prolonging curing results in less water absorption in the specimens,
which shows clearly the benecial effect provided to mortar by
curing. A decrease of 22.5% in absorption when the curing period
is increased from 7 to 28 days was observed. The data also indicate
the benecial effect provided by the use of CPIII-40 cement in the
mortar presenting a 30% decrease in water absorption.
It is noteworthy that most of the specimens with w/c ratio 0.4
absorbed less water, when compared with the specimens with
w/c ratio 0.7.

Fig. 1. Vertical and horizontal sections of the specimens.

V.C.O. Pereira et al. / Construction and Building Materials 40 (2013) 710718

It is also noticed the capacity of CPIII cement in increasing the

water penetration resistance in the mortar. This is because of the
benet brought by the addition of blast-furnace slag to the cement
composition and the higher neness presented by the CPIII-40
(Table 4).
Fig. 4 shows the capillary absorption values obtained at the end
of the testing for each type of cement studied.
Through the graph of Fig. 4, the tendency of increased absorption by capillarity with increased water/cement ratio is veried.
This phenomenon can be explained by more open and interconnected porosity to samples with high water/cement ratio [35].
The water/cement ratio, as the porosity controller parameter, will
inuence the properties linked to the transport mechanisms, since
by reducing the water/cement ratio there will be a decrease in the
mortar voids [36].
Through the graph of Fig. 4, it is clearly seen the difference in
behavior of the cement used as the absorption by capillarity, being
the CPIII-40 cement with the smallest capillary absorption shown
to two w/c ratios and the two curing periods studied. The worst result is assigned to CPII-Z-32 cement, since it had the highest
absorption values for the conditions studied, as expected.

3.2. Compressive strength

For this test, the recommendation of Brazilian Standard ABNT
NBR 7215:1997 [25] was followed, using as satisfactory coefcient
of variation the one equal to or less than 6%. When this coefcient
presented values higher than 6%, the furthest average value was
excluded, calculating again the average, and the coefcient of
variation.
Fig. 5 shows the compressive strength values of mortar at 7
28 days.
The results shown correspond to what was expected, indicating
that, as the w/c ratio decreases, the compressive strength increases. These results are characteristics of Abrams Law, in which
the compressive strength is presented as an exponential function
having the w/c ratio as the exponent [9].
The highest value of average compressive strength at 7 days, for
the series with w/c ratio equal to 0.7, was noted in the CPIII-40;
being even above to the series of CPII-Z-32 and CPIV-32 cements
at 11.028.7%, respectively. For the age of 28 days, the average
compressive strength value of the series of CPIII-40 was also higher
compared to the others, being above the series of CPII-Z-32 and
CPIV-32 cements at 40.056.2%, respectively.
The tendency was the same for the series with w/c ratio equal to
0.4, with higher average values at 728 days, to the series of CPIII40 cement. At 7 days of age, the average resistance value of the series of CPIII-40 cement was superior to the series of CPII-Z-32 and
CPIV-32 cements at 37.7% and 28.12%, respectively. For the age
of 28 days, the average resistance value of CPIII-40 was superior
to the series of CPII-Z-32 and CPIV-32 cements at 8.214.7%,
respectively.
It is also observed that, for the series of CPIII-40 with w/c ratio
equal to 0.4, there is a zone of coincident values in the variation of
results region (variation bar between maximum and minimum values) which indicates a very low increase of resistance, about 5.1%,

Table 5
Parameters to evaluate the corrosion potential values according to ASTM C 876 [21].
Corrosion potential related to copper-copper sulfate
reference electrode (mV)

Corrosion
probability (%)

Ecorr < 350

Ecorr > 200
350 < Ecorr <

>90
<10
Uncertain

200

713

due to the specimens disruption age. That shows a fast resistance

gain of the specimens with blast-furnace slag in their composition.
Fig. 6 shows the effect of the type of cement in the compressive
strength.
According to the results, it is clear that there are differences between the compressive strength of the different types of the cement studied. This difference can be explained by the fact that
each type of cement has a specic curve of resistance evolution
over time due to signicant differences in the physical and chemical of different types of cement in early stages of hydration [35].
Fig. 6 shows that the CPIII-40 cement had the best result, with
regard to compressive strength. The lowest resistance achieved is
related to the CPIV-32 cement, which contains a large amount of
pozzolan (43%) in its composition.
Besides the importance of the chemical composition of the cement, Silva [37] states that the grain size and the granulometric
distribution of cement are factors that impact at the nal and initial resistance, for, the thinner the cement, the faster its hydration
reaction, and the higher its reactivity. This way, the good performance of the CPIII-40 cement is on account of its being thinner
compared to other cement studied (Table 4).
It is further noted that such factors as water/cement ratio, the
age and type of cement, signicantly inuence the compressive
strength. With the reduction in water/cement ratio and the increase in age, the features used had signicant increases in compressive strength.
3.3. Accelerated corrosion
Throughout the test, considerably higher values of corrosion potential in the drying stage at 50 C was observed, because of water
loss and consequent electrolyte volume reduction of the pores. In
potential analysis, the tendency of measured values to present
themselves more negative in the wetting stage, indicating an increased corrosion probability has also been observed.
In Fig. 7, results of series with w/c ratio equal to 0.7 subjected to
7 days of curing are shown. According to the graph, the series of
CPII-Z-32 and CPIV-32 cements have revealed amplitude of similar
potential variation. However, the series of CPIII-40 cement showed
a higher variation in the potential values when changing the partial
immersion stage to the drying one, showing more signicantly positive values on drying.
It is interesting to note that the three series entered the range of
values smaller than 350 mV (corrosion probability above 90%) at
the partial immersion stage at 21 days of test. It also appears that
the potential values at the partial immersion stage were stabilized
near 600 mV.
In Fig. 8, results of series with w/c ratio equal to 0.7 submitted
to the period of 28 days of curing have been presented. It is also
veried that the series of CPII-Z-32 and CPIV-32 cements have
shown amplitude of similar potential variation but smaller than
the CPIII-40 cement.
It turns out that the series of CPII-Z-32 and CPIV-32 cements
have joined the range of values more negative than 350 mV at
21 days of testing at the wetting stage, just as it happened to the
series submitted to a shorter period of curing. However, the
CPIII-40 cement series only reached values for corrosion probability higher than 90% after 28 days of testing, i.e. one more cycle than
the other series.
For the series with w/c ratio equal to 0.7, specimens molded
with CPIII-40 cement showed better results, since they were the
last ones to show values indicating high corrosion probability
(>90%) when submitted to 28 days of curing. The series of CPIII40 and CPIV-32 cements had similar results and did not show signicant difference on the results due to the increased curing
period.

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V.C.O. Pereira et al. / Construction and Building Materials 40 (2013) 710718

Capillary absorption (g/cm)

1.80

w/c=0.7
Curing 7 and 28 days

1.60
1.40
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
0

0.5

24

48

72

Time (h)
CPII-Z -7

CPII-Z -28

CPIII -7

CPIII -28

CPIV -7

CPIV -28

Fig. 2. Capillary absorption as a function of time to specimens with w/c ratio = 0.7.

Capillary absorption (g/cm)

1.80

w/c=0.4
Curing 7 and 28 days

1.60
1.40
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
0

0.5

24

48

72

Time (h)
CPII-Z -7

CPII-Z -28

CPIII -7

CPIII -28

CPIV -7

CPIV -28

Capillary absorption (g/cm)

Fig. 3. Capillary absorption as a function of time to specimens with w/c ratio = 0.4.

1.80
1.60
1.40
w/c=0.7 - 7 days of
curing

1.20
1.00

w/c=0.7 - 28 days of
curing

0.80

w/c=0.4 - 7 days of
curing

0.60
0.40

w/c=0.4 - 28 days of
curing

0.20
0.00
CPII-Z

CPIII

CPIV

Type of cement
Fig. 4. Type of cement effect in the capillary absorption.

In Fig. 9, results of series with w/c ratio equal to 0.4 submitted

to a curing time of 7 days have been presented. Analyzing the
graph, it is seen that these series show different amplitudes of potential variation.
It is veried that the series joined the range of more negative
values than 350 mV at different times, being the CPIV-32 cement
the rst to join at 28 days of testing, the CPII-Z-32 the second at

35 days (1 cycle after CPIV-32) and the CPIII-40 the last at 42 days
(2 cycles after the CPIV-32).
Fig. 10 shows results of series with w/c ratio equal to 0.4 submitted to 28 days of curing time. According to the graph, variable
amplitudes of potential to all three series have been veried.
It is clearly noticed the benecial effect caused by the extended
curing period for the series with w/c ratio 0.4, since the series
(other than the cement CPIV-32) delayed to provide corrosion
probability higher than 90%, which represents an increase of corrosion resistance. The series of CPII-Z-32 cement entered the region
of more negative values than 350 mV after 42 days of testing,
i.e. by the end of the 6th cycle. The series of CPIII-40 cement
showed the best results, considering that it only started to present
corrosion probability above 90% at the end of the 8th cycle (56 days
of testing), two cycles after the series of CPIII-Z-32 cement.
For the series with w/c ratio equal to 0.4, the specimens made of
CPIII-40 cement also showed the best results, followed by the series of CPII-Z-32 and CPIV-32 cements, following this order; conrming, in general, the results of water absorption test.
In general, there was an improvement of corrosion resistance on
the series with w/c ratio reduction; this is because of the fact that
the water/binder ratio is an important factor for the concrete reinforcement protection, as long as alteration in the variable causes
signicant variations to the corrosion rate presented in the structure. Moreover, the less the water/cement ratio, the greater the

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V.C.O. Pereira et al. / Construction and Building Materials 40 (2013) 710718

Compressive strength (MPa)

60

50

40

30
47.52

46.17

49.96
43.57

20

37.09

34.50
28.55

10

16.82

20.38

18.68
14.51

18.28

Series
A1 -CPII-Z -7
C1 -CPIII -7
E1 -CPIV -7

A2 -CPII-Z -28
C2 -CPIII -28
E2 -CPIV -28

B1 -CPII-Z -7
D1 -CPIII -7
F1 -CPIV -7

B2 -CPII-Z -28
D2 -CPIII -28
F2 -CPIV -28

Compressive Strength (MPa)

Fig. 5. Compressive strength values for each series studied.

Results show that for the two w/c ratio studied, the series
molded with CPIII-40 cement have presented higher corrosion
resistance. Tumidajski and Chan [40] have conrmed this assertion, stating that concrete incorporating blast-furnace slag in partial replacement of Portland cement have been more efcient in
preventing the inow of chloride ions than concrete with ordinary
cement.

60
50
40
w/c=0.7 - 7 days

30

w/c=0.7 - 28 days

20

w/c=0.4 - 7 days
w/c=0.4 - 28 days

10

3.4. Statistical analysis

0
CPII-Z-32

CPIII-40

CPIV-32

Type of cement
Fig. 6. Effect of the type of cement in the compressive strength.

protection provided to the reinforcement, because of the pore size

reduction, and therefore, the higher the penetration resistance by
aggressive agents and uids [2].
The curing period has inuenced more signicantly the series
with w/c ratio equal to 0.4, since the corrosion resistance had been
increased with the prolonged curing period. The better the curing
procedure adopted, the higher the corrosion resistance of reinforced
concrete structure, since the electrical resistivity of concrete has
been increased [38] and the chloride ions penetration reduced [39].

In order to intensify the analysis of work and the result interpretation of the developed experimental procedure, results
achieved from the corrosion potential test have been submitted
to statistical analysis using a model of experimental plan.
Aiming to verify whether the independent variables and their
interactions inuence on the dependent variable potential corrosion, i.e., whether the factors are statistically signicant for the
experimental procedure of this study; a full factorial design that allows to investigate simultaneously the effects of multiple variables
and their interactions in a variable response was carried out.
Through the analysis of variance, all hypotheses were tested for
a condence level equal to 95%, i.e. to a level of signicance (error
probability) equal to 5%.

CSE Corrosion Potential (mV)

300

w/c = 0.7
7 days of curing

200
100

Low
corrosion
probability
(10%)

0
- 100
- 200

Uncertain
zone

- 300
- 400
- 500

High
corrosion
probability
(90%)

- 600
- 700
0 5 7 12 14 19 21 26 28 33 35 40 42 47 49 54 56 61 63 68 70 75 77 82 84

Time (Days)
CPII-Z -7

CPIII -7

CPIV -7

Fig. 7. Evolution of the corrosion potentials of the series with w/c ratio = 0.7 and 7 days of curing.

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V.C.O. Pereira et al. / Construction and Building Materials 40 (2013) 710718

CSE Corrosion Potential (mV)

300

w/c = 0.7
28 days of curing

200
100

Low
corrosion
probability
(10%)

0
-100
-200

Uncertain
zone

-300
-400
-500

High
corrosion
probability
(90%)

-600
-700
0 5 7 12 14 19 21 26 28 33 35 40 42 47 49 54 56 61 63 68 70 75 77 82 84

Time (Days)
CPII-Z -28

CPIII -28

CPIV -28

Fig. 8. Evolution of the corrosion potentials of the series with w/c ratio = 0.7 and 28 days of curing.

CSE Corrosion Potential (mV)

300

w/c = 0.4
7 days of curing

200
100

Low
corrosion
probability
(10%)

0
-100
-200

Uncertain
zone

-300
-400
-500

High
corrosion
probability
(90%)

-600
-700
0 5 7 12 14 19 21 26 28 33 35 40 42 47 49 54 56 61 63 68 70 75 77 82 84

Time (Days)
CPII-Z -7

CPIII -7

CPIV -7

Fig. 9. Evolution of the corrosion potentials of the series with w/c ratio = 0.7 and 7 days of curing.

In the corrosion test it was veried that the potential values

(Ecorr) for the wetting half cycle (partial immersion) tended to stabilize close to 600 mV due to accelerated attack provided by the
testing. Thus, the performance of a single analysis on the corrosion
nal potential values could lead to distorted conclusions. Therefore, the analysis of potential results was chosen to be done in
three different stages, namely:
 at 21 days, when the series molded with water/cement ratio
equal to 0.7 and submitted to 7 days of curing showed potential
values lower than 350 mV (corrosion probability above 90%),
which represented 1=4 of the total test time;
 at 42 days, representing half of the testing;
 and at 84 days, at the end of the testing.
The potential values used in the analysis were always of the
partial immersion stage (wetting), since this stage has represented
the moment at which the corrosion process operates with higher
intensity on the specimens due to the electrolyte presence.
Table 6 is a summary of variance analysis performed for the
corrosion potential test. It is seen in Table 6 that the type of
cement variables and curing period are statistically signicant in
three analyzed moments, although a signicance level less than

water/cement ratio in the two rst moments have been shown.

Despite the water/cement ratio to present higher importance in
the rst two moments evaluated, this factor has not demonstrated
to be meaningful to nal potential values. This is probably the tendency, observed during the test, of the corrosion potential values to
stabilize in 600 mV, reducing the variability of potential values
and inuencing the effect exerted by the water/cement ratio factor.
Results indicating that the water/cement ratio is the most important factor about the potential results of corrosion have been
presented by Tessari [41].
It may also be observed, that the interaction between the water/
cement ratio and the curing period has not rendered any signicance in any of the three analyzed moments, indicating that the effect exerted by a variable on the corrosion potential is independent
of the other.
Yet, according to Table 6, it is noteworthy that during the test
there had been tendencies regarding the signicance of interactions between the variables. Note that during the test, the interaction between the type of cement and water/cement ratio had a
tendency to become signicant. This nding has indicated that
for old structures, with already initiated corrosive process, the
variables that interfere in the corrosion process are the type of cement and water/cement ratio. Analogously, it is clear the contrary

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V.C.O. Pereira et al. / Construction and Building Materials 40 (2013) 710718

CSE Corrosion Potential (mV)

300

w/c = 0.4
28 days of curing

200
100

Low
corrosion
probability
(10%)

0
-100
-200

uncertain
zone

-300
-400
-500

High
corrosion
probability
(90%)

-600
-700
0 5 7 12 14 19 21 26 28 33 35 40 42 47 49 54 56 61 63 68 70 75 77 82 84

Time (Days)
CPII-Z -28

CPIII -28

CPIV -28

Fig. 10. Evolution of the corrosion potentials of the series with w/c ratio = 0.4 and 28 days of curing.
Table 6
Summary of variance analysis for the corrosion potential test.
Signicance to the variables and their interactions
Source

21 days

42 days

84 days
(last)

Type of cement
Water/cement ratio
Curing period
Type of cement  water/cement ratio
Type of cement  curing time
Water/cement ratio  curing time
Type of cement  water/cement ratio 
curing time

S
S
S
NS
S
NS
S

S
S
S
S
NS
NS
NS

S
NS
S
S
NS
NS
NS

S signicant; NS no signicant.

6. According to the additional tests carried out and the electrochemical technique to detect potential corrosion applied on
the accelerated corrosion test, it was possible to classify the
three types of cement used in increasing performance order,
as follows: CPIV-32, CPII-Z-32 and CPIII-40.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Politcnica SchoolUniversity of Pernambuco (POLY-UPE), the PROCAD/NF and CAPES (Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) for the
nancial support to conduct this survey.

convergence for interaction between the type of cement and the

curing period, as well as for triple interaction.
References
4. Conclusions
Taking into account the conditions of the test in which the
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1. The reduction of the water/cement ratio has improved the
properties (such as compressive strength, corrosion resistance
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2. For absorption by capillarity and compressive strength tests the
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5. To increase the structures durability in marine environment,
the cement to be used according to environmental conditions,
potentially aggressive, in which structures will be exposed must
be specied, involving the use of a low water/cement ratio and
a prolonged curing period.

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