Corrosion of galvanized steel in carbonated concrete is different from the corrosion of reinforcement made of carbon steeL This is based on the corrosion mechanism of galvanized steel in dependence of the pH-value of carbonated concrete. To describe the influence of a lower pH-value on the corrosion activity of galvanized reinforcement, different electrochemical measurements were made. The anodic and cathodic partial reaction were investigated by galvanostatic pulse measurements and potentiodynamic measurements. Especially the galvanostatic pulse measurements can describe the influence of the lower pH-value by the anodic polarization resistance with pt = 20 sec. (polarization time). Additionally, corrosion current measurements were performed, coupled with potential measurements, between galvanized steel in carbonated and non-carbonated concrete. Normally, the potential measurements are an indicator to localize the anodic and cathodic parts of a macro system. In this case the cathode was more negative than the anode before they were coupled. After the coupling of the two specimens the mixed potential was much more positive than the single potential of the galvanized steel in carbonated concrete. It increased up to the potential range of the non-carbonated specimens. This means that in case of carbonated outer areas, the embedded galvanized steel forms the cathodic part of a macro element.
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