AFM Study on the Surface of Reinforcing Steel in Simulated Concrete Pore Solution

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a powerful technique to study corrosion processes in the μm- and nm- range because it is able to provide real space images of the surface with high spatial resolution while the operation is simple and fast and the sample is free from exposure to high vacuum atmosphere in which some properties may deviate from those under common pressure. Microscopic study on the topography of the surface layer of passivated metal is of great importance to abstaining better understanding of localized corrosion, especially the early stage of this process. In this paper a systematic AFM study on steel in simulated concrete pore solution (SPS) was carried out in order to illustrate the relationship between the stability of passive film at the surface of the steel and aggressive species in the solution and evaluate the effect of several inhibitors on corrosion resistance of reinforcing steel.