Detecting corrosion inhibitor migration depth in topically-treated concrete using DART-MS

摘要

Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) is an ambient atmosphere mass spectrometry technique. It allows quick analysis with minimum sample preparation. DART-MS was used to detect inhibitor penetration depths into the concrete interior when its surface received topical migrating inhibitor treatment. Two different concrete topical treatments were studied. One is a penetrating silane sealer. The other is a pure migrating inhibitor topical product. Concrete chips at various depths were taken at different times after the concrete surface was given a topical treatment. The analysis showed that 5 weeks after receiving the silane sealer, the corrosion inhibitor in the sealer was present at 3cm (1.2 inches) below the treated surface. Testing on concrete cores taken 12 weeks after the pure inhibitor topical treatment indicated that one inhibitor was detected as deep as 7.6cm (3 inches) below the treated surface. Both results indicate that migrating topical inhibitors penetrate into the concrete interior and become available for protection of embedded steel reinforcement.