Influence of airborne chlorides on concrete durability in the marine environment

The main driver of corrosion of concrete reinforcement in the marine environment is the penetration of chlorides into the parts of the concrete in contact with seawater, but insufficient attention is paid to the corrosivity of the marine atmosphere. Research shows that there is a large interaction between the marine atmosphere and concrete. Airborne chlorides are defined as chloride-containing seawater particles in the air that are formed by breaking waves against an obstacle or are lifted from the seawater surface and carried by the wind over long distances. Airborne chlorides accumulate on the concrete surface and potentially penetrate into it, thus contributing to the content of already accumulated chlorides. Quantification of the rate of airborne chlorides accumulation and the penetration of chlorides into the concrete exposed to the marine atmosphere provides an additional basis for planning the service life of reinforced concrete structures in the marine environment. This paper presents an overview of the wet candle method for determining the content of airborne chlorides and presents suggestions for further research in this area.