Review of Corrosion Mitigation Techniques in Reinforced Concrete Using Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors

Abstract

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is one of the major causes of deterioration in reinforced concrete structures exposed to aggressive environmental conditions. Chloride attack, moisture penetration, carbonation, and cyclic wetting–drying conditions accelerate the corrosion process and reduce structural durability. Various corrosion mitigation techniques have been developed to improve the service life of reinforced concrete structures, among which migrating corrosion inhibitors (MCIs) have gained significant attention due to their ability to penetrate hardened concrete and protect embedded reinforcement. This review paper presents a detailed study of corrosion mechanisms, deterioration of reinforced concrete under chloride exposure, corrosion protection techniques, and the effectiveness of migrating corrosion inhibitors based on recent research studies. The paper also reviews recent developments related to corrosion resistance, durability enhancement, and cyclic exposure behavior reported by different researchers. Finally, the proposed study on corrosion mitigation in reinforced concrete beams using migrating corrosion inhibitors under cyclic chloride exposure is presented.

Introduction

The text explains the problem of corrosion in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, which significantly reduces durability and increases maintenance costs worldwide. Reinforced concrete is widely used in infrastructure, but its steel reinforcement is vulnerable to corrosion caused mainly by chloride ion penetration and carbonation, especially in marine and coastal environments. When corrosion occurs, steel expands, creating internal stresses that lead to cracking, spalling, bond loss, and structural deterioration.

Several corrosion mitigation techniques exist, such as surface coatings, cathodic protection, corrosion-resistant steel, and chemical inhibitors. Among these, migrating corrosion inhibitors (MCIs) are highlighted as a promising solution because they can penetrate hardened concrete and form a protective layer around steel reinforcement, reducing electrochemical reactions and delaying corrosion.

The literature review shows that while many studies focus on corrosion mechanisms and fiber-reinforced concrete, limited research has evaluated basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) specifically for corrosion mitigation under chloride exposure, which motivates the present study.

The methodology involves experimental testing of BFRC beams exposed to accelerated chloride attack using wetting–drying cycles in a sodium chloride solution. Corrosion is monitored using techniques like the half-cell potential method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and polarization resistance. The study aims to evaluate how basalt fibers improve corrosion resistance under simulated marine conditions.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Dr. J. P. Bhusari, Miss. Rutuja C. Mundhe. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.