Research Article Open Access Akhtar et al., J Steel Struct Constr 2015, 1:1 DOI: 10.4172/2472-0437.1000103 Review Article Open Access Journal of Steel Structures & Construction J o u r n a l o f S t e e l S t r u c t u r e & C o n s t r u c t i o n ISSN: 2472-0437 Volume 1 • Issue 1 • 1000103 J Steel Struct Constr, an open access journal ISSN: 2472-0437 A Review of Corrosion Control Methods in Ferrocement Akhtar S 1 , Md. Daniyal 1 and Quraishi MA 2 * 1 Department of Civil Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India 2 Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, India *Corresponding author: Quraishi MA, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, India, Tel: 0542 236 8558; E-mail: maquraishi.apc@itbhu.ac.in Received October 24, 2015; Accepted November 19, 2015; Published November 26, 2015 Citation: Akhtar S, Daniyal, Quraishi MA (2015) A Review of Corrosion Control Methods in Ferrocement. J Steel Struct Constr 1: 103. doi:10.4172/2472- 0437.1000103 Copyright: © 2015 Akhtar S, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Ferrocement is a composite material consisting of layered wire meshes and rich cement-sand mortar which imparts high degree of ductility and energy absorbing capacity. Although ferrocement has proven itself as an excellent material for low cost housing, its durability continues to be a matter of concern owing to the corrosion susceptibility of the small diameter metallic wire meshes. Protection of reinforcement in ferrocement is usually achieved through the galvanized wire mesh, increased effective cover and dense mortar. These methods give only partial protection to the reinforcement against corrosion. This article reviews the studies undertaken to control corrosion in the ferrocement composites and thereby improving the durability of the composites. Keywords: Ferrocement; Cementitious composites; Corrosion of steel wire mesh; Corrosion inhibitors Introduction Tere is an alarming housing shortage in Asia and the Pacifc region in general and in the Indian context in particular. An economical and a simple alternative construction material will contribute greatly in solving the problem of housing. Te provision of proper dwellings and basic infrastructure facilities along with earthquake resistant features, have been the constant endeavour of the previous researchers. Ferrocement has proven itself as an excellent material for low cost earthquake resistant housing. Various research organisations and non-government agencies viz. CBRI, SERC, AVBC, HUDCO and some other private sector organisations have also been involved in propagating the technology for efective use of ferrocement units. Te corrosion susceptibility puts a question mark on the efective service life of ferrocement and its components. Any technique suggesting the enhanced life through use of corrosion inhibitors will defnitely establish the efectiveness of the ferrocement material system for a wider range of application in diversifed areas including housing, agriculture, industrial, terrestrial and marine etc. Success of ferrocement, as with other material depends largely upon its durability. Although the ferrocement has proven itself as an excellent material for low cost housing [1-20], reinforcement corrosion is one of the most important criterion governing durability of the ferrocement since the diameter of the wire meshes used in ferrocement are much smaller as compared to the conventional reinforced cement concrete. Prevalent Corrosion Control Techniques Protection of reinforcement is usually achieved through the use of galvanized wire mesh [21]. It has also been suggested that the corrosion of reinforcement can be checked to some extent by making dense mortar with the use of additives such as fy ash, silica fumes and blast furnace slag [22-24]. Some researchers have reported the improvement by increasing the efective cover [25]. Tese suggested ways have proved to be inefective with the passage of time thereby reducing the strength of the ferrocement components [26,27]. Studies undertaken on the chemical reactivity of inhibitors by earlier investigators highlight the worthiness of its application [28-30]. ACI-549R strongly recommends that studies be undertaken to suggest durable and long term anti-corrosion techniques to prevent penetration of water and salts that could lead to the corrosion of reinforcing wire mesh [31]. In some of the recent studies carried out to protect rebar in concrete using diferent types of corrosion inhibitors, it has been clearly established that inhibitors are extremely efective in controlling/delaying onset of corrosion [32-39]. Use of Chemical Corrosion Inhibtors Use of chemical corrosion inhibitor in ferrocement is rarely sighted in literature. Only a few studies are reported which deal with the chemicals like chromium trioxide to address a particular problem of galvanic cell, a patented admixture and a polymer-modifed coating to control the reinforcement corrosion. Use of chemical admixture for the control of corrosion in ferrocement has been explored by a very few investigators. Te use of galvanized wire mesh along with the un-galvanized skeletal steel bars creates galvanic cell problem. Christensen and Williamson [40] were frst to identify this problem and also gave the solution. Tey suggested the use of chromium trioxide at the rate of 100-300 ppm by weight of water in preparing the mortar. Iorns [41] also reported the use of chromium trioxide as an inhibitor of hydrogen gas generation when galvanized mesh is used in ferrocement. Rengaswamy, Saraswathy and Balakrishnan [42] recommended the use of a patented admixture inhibitor consisting of one or more of the chemicals, namely trisodium phosphate, sodium nitrite, sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, for the protection of reinforcement against corrosion due to chloride concentration in ferrocement. Shirai and Ohama [43] reported the performance of ferrocement with polymer-modifed coating on reinforcement. Te coating paste was prepared using styrene-butadiene rubber latex. It was concluded that the corrosion inhibiting property is remarkably improved. In some of the recent studies attempts has been made to improve the corrosion resistance of the ferrocement. Akhtar, et al. [44] explored the