ABSTRACT
Abstract Fluoride can be present as a minor component in low-energy cements. The influence of fluoride content of cement on the corrosion of reinforcements has been studied in alkaline solutions used to simulate the aqueous phase present in concrete pores and in mortar of cement manufactured using CaF2 as a mineraliser and flux agent. Results show that fluoride anions are able to produce pitting of reinforcing steel in alkaline media of high pH but in Ca(OH)2 saturated media, the precipitation of CaF2 lowers F concentration below the minimum that promotes a pitting corrosion process. This results were confirmed in the tests on mortar with CaF2 as a minor component in which corrosion rates of steel were similar to those measured in a traditional cement even in presence of corrosive agents such as chlorides or carbonation of cement. Keywords: Fluoride, steel, corrosion, rebars, concrete.
