Incorporating cinnamaldehyde into concrete for corrosion mitigation

Jafferji, Hajar

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Incorporating cinnamaldehyde into concrete for corrosion mitigation

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Concrete structures can prematurely deteriorate due to the corrosion of reinforcing steel. Corrosion can occur through chloride ingress due to exposure to aggressive media such as seawater and deicing salts. Corrosion causes over $100 billion in damage annually. There are many corrosion mitigation techniques on the market today; these techniques have limited effectiveness as demonstrated by the fact that billions of dollars are still being expended each year due to corrosion-related damage. Therefore, there is a need for innovative approaches to corrosion prevention. This research program used cinnamaldehyde (CA), a bioactive agent derived from cinnamon bark, as a method for corrosion mitigation. Although CA can prevent the corrosion of metals, its hydrophobicity has a negative effect on hydration when incorporated in cementitious systems. In order to avoid these negative consequences while harnessing the anti-corrosive properties, CA was incorporated in a cementitious mixture through the use of lightweight aggregate (LWA). Several tests were carried out to investigate the potential chemical and mechanical effects due to the addition of LWA pre-wet with CA. Promising results were observed, in which the time to corrosion was prolonged by 91 %.

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