TY - JOUR AU - Malavé, R. E. AU - Gómez, M. AU - Sosa, G. AU - Anzola, E. AU - Giménez, A. PY - 2006/12/30 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Durability of reinforced adobe exposed to chloride ions JF - Materiales de Construcción JA - Mater. constr. VL - 56 IS - 284 SE - Research Articles DO - 10.3989/mc.2006.v56.i284.14 UR - https://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/14 SP - 5-16 AB - One of the primary shortcomings of adobe, a dried mudblock stabilized with sisal hemp and cement widely used across all of Latin America, is its dimensional instability when exposed to water or aggressive environments. The present paper evaluates the electrochemical performance of reinforced adobe block after 1,000 days of exposure to a simulated marine environment. The specimens used were adobe blocks internally reinforced with 3/8-inch steel bars. The specimens were watered every two weeks: one group with potable water to simulate a natural urban environment and the other with a 3% sodium chloride solution to simulate a marine environment.Chloride penetration in powder extracted from the specimens was determined using the Mohr method. Electrochemical measurements included Gecor 6 electric potential(Eº) and corrosion intensity (icorr) readings. The final conclusion drawn from an analysis of the results was that in all cases the amount of free chlorides present sufficed to depassivate reinforcing steel and that the system component providing the most effective protection was the rough casting mortar. Consequently, this type of adobe mixes is not recommended for use in marine or industrial environments. ER -