AgNO3-based colorimetric methods for measurement of chloride penetration in concrete

作者:He, Fuqiang; Shi, Caijun*; Yuan, Qiang; Chen, Changping; Zheng, Keren
来源:Construction and Building Materials, 2012, 26(1): 1-8.
DOI:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.06.003

摘要

This paper reviews reaction mechanisms of AgNO3, AgNO3 K2CrO4 and AgNO3 fluoresceine colorimetric methods, and their applications for measurement of chloride ion penetration in concrete. Among the three methods, AgNO3 method is most widely applied because it gives similar results but simpler and faster than the other two methods. AgNO3-based colorimetric methods can potentially measure two variables, chloride ion penetration depth and chloride concentration at the color change boundary. Reported chloride ion concentrations at the color change boundary (C-d) measured or calculated by some researchers vary over a broad range due to many factors, such as sampling procedure, chloride ion analysis method, alkalinity of concrete, sprayed volume and concentration of AgNO3 solution, pore solution volume and methods for measuring free chloride concentration in concrete, etc., in which sprayed volume and concentration of AgNO3 solution are main factors. The smaller the volume of sprayed AgNO3 solution with a certain concentration, the lower the C-d is. 0.1 mol/L AgNO3 solution has most clear color of boundary. To obtain a lower C-d, a proper sprayed volume of 0.1 mol/L AgNO3 solution should be determined. However, this important point was not mentioned at all times since the AgNO3 method was applied. Based on small range of C-d, AgNO3 method can be a useful method for rapidly evaluating chloride ion penetration in reinforced concrete structures in chloride environments.