¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China;
² Corrosion and Sustainable Infrastructure Laboratory, Western Transportation Institute, PO Box 174250, College of Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-4250, USA;
³ Civil Engineering Department, 205 Cobleigh Hall, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-2220, USA;
⁴ Imaging and Chemical Analysis Laboratory, Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

The present research brings new insights on the role of admixed corrosion inhibitors in the processes of cement hydration and rebar corrosion. The admixing of NaCl and the corrosion inhibitors in fresh mortar was found to alter the morphology and microstructure of the hardened mortar at the steel- mor-tar interfacial region. The admixing of the inhibitors increased the risk of carbonation of cement hy-drates at the steel-mortar interfacial region, but partially displaced chloride ions. Chloride and the ad-mixed inhibitors facilitated the formation of different cement hydrates and affected chloride binding at the steel-mortar interfacial region. The admixing of all three inhibitors was found to increase the po-larization resistance of steel, indicating reduced corrosion rate of the steel over 48-day exposures to salt ponding.

Supported by the Research and Innovative Technology Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation through the University Transportation Center