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Zinc (Zn) coating is being used to protect steel structures from corrosion. There are different processes to deposit the coating onto a steel substrate. Therefore, in the present study, a 100 µm thick Zn coating was deposited by arc and plasma arc thermal spray coating processes, and the corrosion resistance performance was evaluated in artificial seawater. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the arc thermal spray coating exhibited splats and inflight particles, whereas plasma arc spraying showed a uniform and dense morphology. When the exposure periods were extended up to 23 d, the corrosion resistance of the arc as well as the plasma arc thermal spray coating increased considerably. This is attributed to the blocking characteristics of the defects by the stable hydrozincite (Zn5(OH)6(CO3)2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, 0.115 M L-arginine (LA) has been used as an eco-friendly inhibitor in simulated concrete pore solutions (SP-0) in order to form passive films on a steel rebar–solution interface until 144 h. Hence, 0.51 (SP-1) and 0.85 M NaCl (SP-2) were added in LA containing SP-0 solution to breakdown the passive film and to initiate corrosion reactions. The electrochemical results show that the charge transfer resistance (Rct) of steel rebar exposed to SP-1 and SP-2 solutions increased with respect to immersion periods. The sample exposed to the SP-2 solution initiated the corrosion reaction at the steel rebar–solution interface after 24 h of NaCl addition and formed pits; on the other hand, the sample without NaCl added, i.e., SP-0, showed agglomeration and dense morphology of corrosion products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene is one of the most favorite materials for materials science research owing to its distinctive chemical and physical properties, such as superior conductivity, extremely larger specific surface area, and good mechanical/chemical stability with the flexible monolayer structure. Graphene is considered as a supreme matrix and electron arbitrator of semiconductor nanoparticles for environmental pollution remediation. The present review looks at the recent progress on the graphene-based metal oxide and ternary composites for photocatalysis application, especially for the application of the environmental remediation. The challenges and perspectives of emerging graphene-based metal oxide nanocomposites for photocatalysis are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, different amounts, i.e., 1–3 v/v% of 1 M ammonium phosphate monobasic, were used as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor to mitigate the corrosion of steel rebar exposed to simulated concrete pore (SCP) + 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at a prolonged duration. Potentiodynamic polarization results show that as the amount of inhibitor is increased, the corrosion resistance of steel rebar is increased. The steel rebar exposed to 3% inhibitor-containing SCP + 3.5 wt% NaCl solution exhibited nobler corrosion potential (Ecorr), the lowest corrosion current density (icorr), and 97.62% corrosion inhibition efficiency after 1 h of exposure. The steel rebars exposed to 3% inhibitor-containing SCP + 3.5 wt% NaCl solution revealed higher polarization resistance (Rp) and film resistance (Ro) with exposure periods compared to other samples owing to the formation of passive film. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of steel rebar exposed to 3% inhibitor-containing SCP + 3.5 wt% NaCl solution showed homogenous and uniform dendritic passive film which covers all over the surface, whereas, bare, i.e., SCP + 3.5 wt% NaCl solution exposed samples exhibited pitting and irregular morphology. Raman spectroscopy results confirm the formation of goethite (α-FeOOH), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and iron phosphate (FePO4) as a passive film onto the steel rebar surface exposed to 3% inhibitor-containing SCP + 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. These phases are responsible for the corrosion mitigation of steel rebar which are very protective, adherent, and sparingly soluble. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, different contents, i.e., 1–3% of 0.5 M ammonium phosphate mono basic (APMB), were used as corrosion inhibitor to reduce the corrosion of steel rebar. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that up to 24 h of exposure, polarization resistance (Rp) and passive/oxide film resistance (Ro) gradually decreased in simulated concrete pore (SCP) + 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution owing to the reduction in pH of the solution. The steel rebar exposed in 2% inhibitor containing SCP + 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution exhibited 90% inhibition efficiency after 1 h of exposure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of thermodynamically very stable and sparingly soluble goethite (α-FeOOH), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and iron phosphate (FePO4) as passive/oxide film onto the steel rebar surface exposed to 2% inhibitor containing SCP + 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a destructive phenomenon which harms the building, telecommunication, and IT based infrastructure. Thus, it is required to reduce the effect of EMP using shielding materials. In the present study, we have used different thickness of concrete walls by incorporating 1 and 5 wt% of carbon black, as well as 100 µm thick Zn–Al coating using the arc thermal metal spraying method (ATMSM). The EMP was evaluated using waveguide measurement fixture for shielding performance of the concrete wall in the range of 0.85 to 1 GHz frequency. The results reveal that the maximum value, i.e., 41.60 dB is shown by the 5-300-N specimen before application of Zn–Al coating where the thickness of concrete wall was 300 mm and 5% carbon black. However, once the 100 µm thick Zn–Al coating was applied on concrete specimen, this value was increased up to 89.75 dB. The increase in shielding values around 48 dB after using the Zn–Al coating is attributed to the reflection loss of the metal thermal spray coating. Thus, the Zn–Al coating can be used for EMP application instead of metallic plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) conventionally has been incorporated with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) owing to reduce the environmental load and enhance the engineering performance. Concrete with GGBFS shows different strength development of normal concrete, but sensitive, to exterior condition. Thus, a precise strength evaluation technique based on a quantitative model like full maturity model is required. Many studies have been performed on strength development of the concrete using equivalent age which is based on the apparent activation energy. In this process, it considers the effect of time and temperature simultaneously. However, the previous models on the apparent activation energy of concrete with mineral admixtures have limitation, and they have not considered the effect of temperature on strength development. In this paper, the apparent activation energy with GGBFS replacement ratio was calculated through several experiments and used to predict the compressive strength of GGBFS concrete. Concrete and mortar specimens with 0.6 water/binder ratio, and 0 to 60% GGBFS replacement were prepared. The apparent activation energy (Ea) was experimentally derived considering three different curing temperatures. Thermodynamic reactivity of GGBFS mixed concrete at different curing temperature was applied to evaluate the compressive strength model, and the experimental results were in good agreement with the model. The results show that when GGBFS replacement ratio was increased, there was a delay in compressive strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum coating was deposited by arc thermal spraying process onto the steel substrate for the corrosion protection in aggressive environment. However, the arc thermal sprayed coating possesses defects in the coating. Thus, it is important to reduce the defects and enhance the corrosion resistance properties of the deposited coating using post-treatment. In the present study, we have used different concentrations of sodium phosphate mono basic (NaH2PO4) with 0.1 molar (M) calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] as post-treatment solution to fill out the defects of the Al coating. It was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that 1 M NaH2PO4 with 0.1 M Ca(NO3)2 treated sample exhibited 71% reduction in defects compared to as coated samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed to determine the phases formed on the coating surface after treatments. XRD confirms the formation of sodium aluminum hydrogen phosphate (Na3Al(OH)(HPO4)(PO4)) and brushite (Ca(HPO4)(H2O)2) as composite oxides on the Al coating. Electrochemical results show that 0.5 M NaH2PO4 with 0.1 M Ca(NO3)2 treated sample has exhibited the highest charge transfer resistance and the lowest corrosion current density after 89 days of exposure in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The enhancement in corrosion resistance of 0.5 M NaH2PO4 with 0.1 M Ca(NO3)2 treated sample attributed to the formation of adherent, sparingly soluble, and stable corrosion products. The volume fraction result of the corrosion products formed on 0.5 M NaH2PO4 with 0.1 M Ca(NO3)2 treated sample after 89 days of exposure in 3.5 wt.% NaCl using XRD confirms the highest amount of Bayerite (α-Al(OH)3) deposition, thus, the corrosion rate of this sample was the lowest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]