Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET) Development of Corrosion Inhibiting Geopolymers Based Cement for Transportation

Infrastructure

Optimizing the composition of Geopolymer Cement for improved corrosion Project Number: 19CTAM02 protection of steel reinforcement rebars in transportation infrastructure

Start Date: Geopolymers are gaining attention as affordable, man-made material, it is estimated that 5-6% of 08/15/2019 sustainable, and eco-friendly replacement for CO2 emission is due to OPC production. GPC as

End Date: Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in concrete civil alternative to OPC constitute a family of materials 02/15/2021 structures. More importantly, Geopolymer-based consisting of covalently bonded alumino-silicates, Cement (GPC) provide sustainable and non-crystalline networks and are generally Principal Investigator(s): environmentally friendly alternative to OPCs as substituted for many engineering applications due Homero Castaneda GPC can be processed at room temperatures from to their high strength. They have received much Texas A&M University aqueous solutions of waste materials (e.g. fly ash) attention as an ecofriendly and sustainable [email protected] or abounded natural sources (e.g. clay) and thus alternative to OPC because they can be processed Miladin Radovic reduce significant CO2 production. Although, at room temperature inexpensively from waste Texas A&M University research has been done on improving mechanical materials or natural sources, thus providing the [email protected] properties of GPC, there are only a few studies on plentiful worldwide raw material supply. More the effects of GPC concrete on steel rebar importantly, the use of GPC rather than OPC can Lead Institution: reinforcement. This study will investigate the reduce CO2 emission for 44-64%. Over the last Texas A&M University long-term durability of reinforced GPC concrete decade, there has been a need to repair and Funds Requested to UTC: against chloride-induced corrosion. Durability replace the current reinforced concrete structure, $60,000 tests under simulated marine environment will be especially those exposed to highly corrosive conducted on reinforced GPC concrete over long agents such as chloride ions. GPC have been also Funding Source(s): periods of time. Both material characterization consider as an attractive alternative to OPC in Texas A&M University studies related to micro to macro behavioral reinforced concrete structures, not only because Con Edison changes during long-term exposure of reinforced of their good mechanical properties, but also GPC concrete and steel rebar will also be carried because they can prevent extensive corrosion of Total Project Cost: out. In addition, in order to improve the durability the reinforcement. $120,000 of the transportation infrastructure affected by corrosion in the most efficient manor, a procedure Objectives to manage corrosion in reinforced GPC bridges will be developed. The desirable features of this The overall objective of project is to develop an management system will include the methods for innovative, sustainable, eco-friendly and durable preliminary corrosion condition evaluation and in- GPC for reinforced concrete infrastructure in depth corrosion condition evaluation, the egion 6, using natural and waste materials that methods for assessing the structure condition are abounded in the region. rating and monitoring, methodology for selecting More specific objectives of the proposed projects best corrosion prevention and controls, reliability are: (a) conduct electrochemical testing of GPC model, and procedure for tracking repair or design concrete reinforced with steel rebar in simulated performance. corrosive marine environment using both AC and DC methods; (b) determine corrosion mechanism Problem Statement and kinetics of the reinforcement steel in GPC At the present time, Ordinary Portland Cement concrete; (c) optimize GPC composition for (OPC) is key material for transportation maximum corrosion protection of reinforcing infrastructure as it has been widely used for steel rebar; (d) provide guidance for the industry concrete structures and stabilization of base and on optimizing GPC composition for maximum subgrade materials. However, production of OPC corrosion protect and disseminate those guidance involves large energy consumption to achieve the to the industry of interest; and (e) develop high temperatures that are required for reaction corrosion management system would include the between clay and calcium-carbonate (CaCO3). methods for preliminary corrosion condition This process also results in the release of carbon evaluation and in-depth corrosion condition dioxide (CO2), and since OPC is the most produced evaluation, the methods for assessing the 1 structure condition rating and monitoring, concrete on the corrosion resistance of reinforcing methodology for selecting best corrosion steel. Students working on this project will benefit prevention and controls, reliability model, and from exposure to advanced materials and procedure for tracking repair or design characterization tools and linking laboratory performance in GPCs. samples within corrosive (atmospheric) environments and high-resolution Intended Implementation of characterization technologies that are not typical Research for traditional civil or materials engineers but will likely be part of everyday life of future engineers. Workforce Development: The outcome of this This proposal provides an ideal environment for research will lead to a comprehensive report that the education and training of students at the will provide design methods and guidance for graduate level in a highly interdisciplinary area utilization of Geopolymer in reinforced concrete, that encompasses civil engineering, materials capable of long-term performance in marine engineering, corrosion, and application to real- environment. Workforce development will also world durability and reliability of reinforced take place trough series of the outreach activates concrete structures. targeting broader audience of corrosion, civil and materials engineers, and industrial partners with Anticipated Impacts/Benefits of the goal of increasing their awareness on Implementation importance of developing new technologies for eco-friendly and durable transportation Both extended lifetime of transportation infrastructure. The information will also be infrastructure and low carbon footprints in using disseminated in various venues including technical Geopolymer are anticipated, which eventually publications, and conference presentations. lead to green transportation infrastructure. Research team will also disseminate research findings at American Ceramics Society (ACerS) and Web Links Nation Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). Result of this project will be also presented in at • TranSET’s website least two papers published in the peer review (https://transet.lsu.edu/research-in- journals. progress/)

Outreach activities and education: Train and • TRB's Research in Progress (RIP) database educate two PhD students in developing (https://rip.trb.org/View/1644237) reinforced geopolymer based concretes, characterization of their structural properties and carrying our independently complex Tran-SET electrochemical and corrosion testing. Tran-SET is Region 6’s University Transportation Multidisciplinary training of student will Center. It is a collaborative partnership between contribute to their unique position on the job 11 institutions (see below) across 5 states (AR, LA, market in the future. Presentations will be made NM, OK, and TX). Tran-SET is led by Louisiana State at the Graduate invitational visits at Texas A&M University. It was established in late November University to demonstrate effects of development 2016 “to address the accelerated deterioration of of ecofriendly substations for OPC. PI (Castaneda) transportation infrastructure through the and Co-Pi (Radovic) have an excellent record of development, evaluation, and implementation of supervising research of K-12 and undergraduate cutting-edge technologies, novel materials, and students during summer for different programs innovative construction management processes”. for the National Corrosion Center and Materials Performance. In addition, there have been Learn More ongoing interactions with high school for corrosion science and engineering program. For more information about Tran-SET, please visit Our Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Develop class experimental demonstrations in YouTube pages. Also, please feel free to contact electrochemical methods in corrosion studies. The Mr. Christopher Melson (Tran-SET Program results from this research will be incorporated into Manager) directly at [email protected]. several courses at Texas A&M University including MSEN410 Materials processing, MSEN 643 Materials Electrochemistry and Corrosion, and MSEN 644 Corrosion Laboratory. In each course, a module will be developed do demonstrate effects of the processing, structure and properties of new 2