The Chloride Chronicles: Unmasking a Hidden Enemy of Concrete

Abstract: Concrete is a marvelous material that can shape our structures, but it also has a hidden enemy: chloride ions. Chloride ions present in cementitious mixtures, both in new construction and existing structures can play a pivotal role in assessing the durability, sustainability, and potential corrosion risks of concrete structures. Structures, especially in regions with cycles of freezing and thawing or regions near the ocean where salt is present in the air are more vulnerable to chloride ingress, which can accelerate the corrosion process and reduce the service life of the structures. That's why many experts, specifiers, and state highway agencies have set strict limits on how much chloride can be tolerated in concrete in new construction.  But what about chloride content in concrete structures that are in need of repair that have been exposed to years of chlorides in the environment?  How do we measure the chloride content in concrete…