Effect of phosphate-based inhibitor on corrosion kinetics and mechanism for formation of passive film onto the steel rebar in chloride-containing pore solution

In the present study, different contents, i.e., 1-3% of 0.5 M ammonium phosphate mono basic (APMB), were used as corrosion inhibitor to reduce the corrosion of steel rebar. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that up to 24 h of exposure, polarization resistance (Rp) and passive/oxide film resistance (Ro) gradually decreased in simulated concrete pore (SCP) + 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution owing to the reduction in pH of the solution. The steel rebar exposed in 2% inhibitor containing SCP + 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution exhibited 90% inhibition efficiency after 1 h of exposure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of thermodynamically very stable and sparingly soluble goethite (α-FeOOH), maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃), and iron phosphate (FePO₄) as passive/oxide film onto the steel rebar surface exposed to 2% inhibitor containing SCP + 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution.