Abstract
Bicarbonate/carbonate and molybdate anions have been characterized for their inhibitive effect on pitting corrosion of carbon steel in simulated concrete pore solution by using electrochemical tests such as electrochemical impedance (EIS) and linear polarization (LP). It was revealed that bicarbonate/carbonate has a weak inhibitive effect on pitting corrosion that is approximately one order of magnitude lower compared to hydroxide. Molybdate is effective against pitting corrosion induced by the concentration of chloride as low as 113 mM and can increase the pitting potential of a previously pitted sample to the oxygen evolution potential by the concentration of molybdate as much as 14.6 mM only. The formation of a $CaMoO_4$ film on the surface hinders the reduction of dissolved oxygen on the steel surface, reducing corrosion potential and increasing the safety margin between corrosion potential and pitting potential further. In addition, pore-plugging by $FeMoO_4$ as a type of salt film within pits increases the likelihood of repassivation.