ABSTRACT
Corrosion of steel in any environment is a process that involves progressive removal of atoms of iron (Fe) from the steel being corroded. The iron is removed by an electrochemical reaction and is dissolved in the surrounding water solution, appearing as ferrous (Fe2+) ions. In steel embedded in concrete, the dissolution takes place in the limited volume of water solution present in the pores of the concrete surrounding the steel. As a result of this dissolution process, the steel loses mass, i.e. its cross-section becomes smaller.
