Corrosion Detection with NDT Devices

Corrosion Detection with NDT Devices

Accurately Identify Concrete Corrosion Patterns with iCOR and XCell

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Non-Invasive and Non-Destructive Technology

iCOR and XCell devices are non-invasive and non-destructive, eliminating the need for timely concrete corrosion detection procedures.

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Quickly Track Corrosion Patterns

Data is wirelessly collected, analyzed, and stored on the provided app, facilitating easy sharing with team members.

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Simple and
Easy-To-Use

Easily generate contour plots that illustrate the presence of rebar corrosion in concrete.

Detecting rebar corrosion in concrete structures is a crucial element in the safety and durability of the structure. Rebar corrosion in concrete is a natural process that occurs when the steel bar situated within the concrete structure rusts due to the presence of moisture, oxygen, and chloride ions. This can lead to structural failure and collapse. As a result, reinforced concrete structures should go through testing regularly to detect and prevent corrosion. At Giatec, we offer two cutting-edge Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) solutions for this concern: XCell and iCOR.

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Corrosion of Steel in Concrete

Rebar corrosion commences when materials that are harmful to steel, such as CO2 and chloride from de-icing salt, infiltrate concrete and reach the steel reinforcement. This triggers an electrochemical reaction, causing rust formation. Since rust occupies a larger volume than steel, it exerts internal pressure which causes the surrounding concrete to crack and become damaged. These cracks make their way to the concrete’s surface, causing more CO2 and chloride to penetrate the concrete and speed up the corrosion process.

Half-Cell Potential Test

The half-cell potential test is the only corrosion monitoring technique standardized in ASTM C876-15: Standard Test Method for Corrosion Potentials of Uncoated Reinforcing Steel in Concrete. It is used to determine the probability of corrosion within the rebar in reinforced concrete.

This method involves placing a reference electrode on the concrete surface and measuring the electrical potential between this electrode and steel reinforcement. This potential indicates the likelihood of corrosion; more negative potential suggests a higher risk of corrosion, while less negative or positive potential indicates lower risk.

This method remains one of the most commonly used since it is the only corrosion monitoring technique standardized by ASTM. Giatec’s XCell device uses the half-cell technique to detect corrosion. XCell is a tablet-based NDT probe for fast and accurate detection and on-site analysis of corrosion in reinforced structures. The device measures the corrosion potential and sends it wirelessly to a tablet for generating half-cell contour plots in real time.

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Rebar Corrosion Detection with iCOR

Unlike conventional devices which require drilling into the concrete and physically connecting the rebar to evaluate corrosion, Giatec’s iCOR is completely non-destructive. The iCOR is an award-winning sensor device that has been recognized for its positive impact on concrete monitoring and mitigation.

iCOR uses our patented Connectionless Electrical Pulse Response Analysis (CEPRA) technology.  It is a three-in-one concrete testing device used to measure These measurements are vital to the success of rehabilitation projects and repair.

XCell and iCOR
Non-Destructive Solution for Concrete Corrosion testing

Blogs for Mass Concrete

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Concrete Corrosion Repair of Reinforced Structures: Prevention and Methods

Giatec Scientific July 11, 2023

The strenuous job of planning a reinforced concrete structure does not end after your project is complete. Concrete structures can be exposed to elements like salt water, CO2 and chloride, which can penetrate the concrete all the way to the steel reinforcement, resulting in corrosion. If corrosion is not properly monitored and managed, the durability of the structure begins to weaken, which has serious safety risks. The risks and rate of corrosion increase the longer a building, bridge, or dam is around, so it is especially important to test and maintain them when needed. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of the repair of reinforced concrete, as well as new methods that can generally contribute to concrete corrosion repair.Cracks in ConcreteA lot of corrosion can go completely unnoticed. Often, if you see corrosion, it is too late for simple repairs, and rebuilding may be necessary. However, sometimes non-structural cracks may appear, which may not pose any safety risks at first. Although not immediately dangerous, there are a couple of reasons you might want to repair these cracks. The first reason is simply that they make the structure look unsafe and unattractive. The second reason is that these cracks…

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Understanding and Monitoring Corrosion in Steel Reinforced Concrete

Giatec Scientific June 20, 2023

Corrosion is a natural process that occurs when the steel rebar within reinforced concrete structures rusts. In scientific terms, concrete corrosion is the “destruction of metal by chemical, electrochemical, and electrolytic reactions within its environment.” It typically forms as the concrete ages. In this blog, we will discuss the reasons why steel corrosion in concrete is a problem, how to assess reinforcement corrosion, and NDT devices for concrete corrosion monitoring.Why Is Concrete Corrosion a Problem?Corrosion is initiated when materials that are harmful to steel, such as CO2 and chloride from de-icing salt, start to penetrate concrete and reach the structure’s steel reinforcement. As an electrochemical reaction, electrons migrate from the anodic zone to the cathodic zone. They release ferrous ions at the anode and hydroxide ions at the cathode. This will eventually lead to a potential difference between the anodic and cathodic areas on the surface of the steel reinforcement. In turn, this process creates rust.Since rust occupies a larger volume than steel, it exerts internal pressure which causes the surrounding concrete to crack and become damaged. These cracks make their way to the surface of the concrete which causes even more CO2 and chloride to penetrate the concrete. This…

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Half-Cell Potential Test for Concrete Corrosion

What Is the Half-Cell Potential Test?

Sarah De Carufel June 20, 2023

Corrosion is a natural process that occurs when a structure is exposed to elements like CO2 or chloride, which can penetrate the concrete all the way to the steel reinforcement. This can have serious durability and safety consequences, which is why it is important to monitor corrosion using an accurate and trusted method. The half-cell potential test is the only corrosion monitoring technique standardized in ASTM C876 – 15: Standard Test Method for Corrosion Potentials of Uncoated Reinforcing Steel in Concrete. It is used to determine the probability of corrosion within the rebar in reinforced concrete structures. This blog dives into the specifics of concrete corrosion, the half-cell potential measurement for testing concrete corrosion, and the ways in which the data from a half-cell potential device can be interpreted.The Basics of Concrete CorrosionIn reinforced concrete structures, there is a natural protective film that forms on the surface and prevents the bar from corroding. With time, chlorides (from de-icing salts or marine exposure) and/or CO2 penetrate the concrete and breakdown that protective layer. Chlorides destabilize the passive film leading to its localized breakdown, while CO2 lowers the pH of the concrete below the level of stability of the passive film. In…

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