Abstract
The electrodeposition method for rehabilitation of cracked reinforced concrete is presented here. Electrodeposition means precipitation of material on the surface of an electrode by electrolysis. The aim of electrodeposition method is to fill the crack in concrete and to coat the concrete surface by electrodeposits of chemical compounds. These layers of inorganic compounds provide a physical barrier and reduce the flux of gas or solution inside the concrete. This is expected to be accomplished by feeding a weak direct current between the reinforced steel in a concrete structure and an electrode located in the external solution.
The electrodeposition test was conducted using reinforced concrete beams of 15×15×125cm. Cracked specimens by carbonation were immersed in an electrolyte zinc sulfate solution, and were applied with a constant current for 4 weeks. Visual observation and electrochemical investigations were performed in order to assess the effectiveness of this method in the improvement of concrete properties. The laboratory test results were also verified with the application on reinforced concrete members of real structure. The results indicate that electrodeposits formed on the concrete surface are capable closing the concrete cracks and that the electrodeposition method is effective on the repassivity of the reinforcing steel in concrete.
