Factors affecting the chloride threshold level for steel corrosion in concrete

The present study surveys the concrete properties-concerned factors influencing the chloride threshold level for steel corrosion in concrete, altogether with supporting experimental works, in particular, chloride binding capacity, buffering capacity, condition of steel-concrete interface and cement replacement. It concluded that the order of the dominance on CTL is such that chloride binding < buffering capacity of cement matrix < physical condition of steel-concrete interface. This is attributed to the fact that calcium hydroxide does not form a continuous layer on the steel surface and that bound chlorides are released at the stage of corrosion initiation.