Use of Corrosion Inhibitors in Stainless Steel Anchors Used in Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GRC) Precast Facade Elements

Corrosion is the process of losing the physico-mechanical properties of the metallic material over time as a result of chemical or electrochemical reactions. It is one of the most fundamental problems encountered in the construction industry; according to the latest research despite all the precautions taken corrosion causes an economic loss of approximately 546 million pounds per year. In addition to financial consequences, numerous dramatic damage events are directly or indirectly attributed to the corrosion process. Revealing the corrosion risk at the architectural design stage, taking into account the compatibility of the materials to be used, will contribute significantly to the steps to be taken regarding the monitoring and prevention of corrosion. In this study; the benefit of preventing the corrosion that occurs over time in the stainless steel anchors used in glass fiber reinforced concrete (GRC) precast facade elements by using corrosion inhibitor before mounted to the GRC was investigated. Creating a protective layer on the metal surface by using a patented chemical solution containing a corrosion inhibitor was used for the first time in the GRC sector in this study. After washing with corrosion inhibitor solution, stainless steel anchor elements were immersed in 5%(w/v) NaCl solution. After 30 days, the metal surfaces were examined by visually and were investigated by surface imaging methods (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS)) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The findings show that washing with a solution containing corrosion inhibitor, especially after welding; increases the strength of the oxide film formed on the stainless steel surface and protects it against corrosion.