Development and Application of Novel Nano Materials for the Corrosion Control of RC Beam Steel Reinforcements

Oman’s construction market size is estimated to be 6.82 billion USD at the end of 2024,

and is anticipated to reach 8.02 billion USD by 2029. As per the goals and targets of Oman

Vision 2040, the economic diversification plan of the country has been a key growth factor

in the construction sector. The construction industry in Oman is now the second-largest

contributor to the economy, apart from oil and gas sectors. Corrosion in steel reinforcement is a massive problem worldwide due to the interaction of material surface with the surrounding environment, exposure to iron, oxygen and water and complete control of corrosion is a challenging task. The lifespan of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures are reduced due to multiple reasons. Nanotechnology is an innovative and interdisciplinary field of emerging technology having widespread applications in corrosion control, environmental remediation, biomedical and materials engineering owing to their attractive nanoscale dimensions, enhanced surface area, and outstanding corrosion resistance with excellent microstructural properties.

The development of nanomaterial based corrosion inhibitors has a potential to offer

groundbreaking changes in the growing construction industry. The proposed project aims

to develop a suitable nanomaterial to suppress the corrosion in RC steel bars and also

to assess their efficiency for a sustainable management. Sultanate of Oman is currently

experiencing severe corrosion attacks on RC steel bars, since Oman is boarded near the

Arabian Sea, which needs to be meticulously addressed by developing a stable, cost effective, ecofriendly and sustainable corrosion inhibitors to extend the lifespan of the steel bars. In this research, an innovative and low cost technique will be applied in the development of nanoparticles and nanocoating on steel bars for corrosion prevention. The main objective of the proposed research is to produce silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) using sol-gel method and modified wet-chemical technique. The resulting nanoparticles will be used for the development of multilayer thin films on steelsurface to suppress the corrosion behavior of RC steel bars. This research aligns with the targets and Goals of UNSDG 2030 and advance towards Oman vision 2040 for national infrastructure development. The proposed research has the potential to offer a long-term protection of RC.

Objectives

1. Development of SiO2NPs and TiO2NPs;

2. Characterization of the nanoparticles using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

(FTIR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy

(FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), and Braumer

Emmet Teller surface area analyzer (BET) and to perform Nano coating on steel bar by

dip coating techniques.

3. Determination of the mix proportions for the C30 grade concrete using American

Concrete Institute (ACI) code. Also, preparation of the different mix proportions of

nanoparticles and concrete in minimizing the steel reinforcement corrosion and to

optimize the dosage of nanoparticles as admixtures.

4. Perform the casting of RC beams with and without Nano thin film coated steel bars and

Nano particles followed by corrosion studies using galvanostatic corrosion process.

5. Determine and compare the flexural strength of RC beams with and without Nano thin

film coated steel bars and/ or Nano particles after the corrosion process.

Funding Agency:

MOHERI

Collaborative Partners:

Nanotechnology (India)

Safety and sustainability (Nigeria)