Introduction
The objectives of the Laboratory for Corrosion Protection Technology
- To investigate the atmospheric corrosivity in local areas in Hong Kong, and to study the atmospheric corrosion chemicals, corrosion mechanisms, and corrosion rates of exposed steelwork under local environments.
- To investigate various corrosion monitoring methods in buildings and civil engineering structures using internet-based monitoring systems and corrosion sensors.
- To investigate the conventional galvanization method with Zinc, and the innovative modern galvanization process with Zinc and Aluminium alloys as well as the control of coating thicknesses, and surface quality, and the prolonged use of various fluxing solutions.
- To investigate corrosion protection and repair technology including rusts and hydrated iron oxides, rust removal, chemical treatments, service life of rusted steelwork, and service life after repair.
Research Team of the Lab
- Laboratory-in-charge
- Prof K F Chung
- Deputy Laboratory-in-charge
- Mr. JIANG Hao, Research Fellow (CNERC, PolyU)
- Members
- Mr. WANG Yichuan, Research Associate (CNERC, PolyU)
- Ms. XIAO Tingyu, Research Associate (CNERC, PolyU)
- Mr. Eric YUEN, Research Assistant (CNERC, PolyU)
- Two more external advisor from Arup/Fugro
Venue
Water and Waste Laboratories – Laboratories ZS1101, ZS1102 and ZS1112 at Block Z
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Water and Waste Laboratories
High Performance Ion Chromatography
Laboratory research
To confront potential durability problems of infrastructure in Hong Kong, it is essential to investigate and understand various controlling mechanisms of corrosion in exposed structural steelwork. Hence, atmospheric corrosivity of exposed structural steelwork under local environments in Hong Kong are examined. Moreover, corrosion monitoring methods, corrosion engineering technology, prediction, assessment and protection methods to both reinforced concrete structures and steel-concrete composite structures should be investigated and developed under Hong Kong context.
Effective implementation of corrosion engineering technology for sustainable infrastructure development among construction professionals will bring tremendous economic benefits to Hong Kong as a whole. Savings on long-term maintenance expenses on residential buildings, commercial offices and public buildings as well as roads, highways, railways, tunnels, bridges and ports facilities will be enormous.
The research areas are: a) Monitoring of corrosion in MiC buildings, b) Long term monitoring of corrosion in civil engineering structures: bridges, flexible rock barriers and noise barriers, c) Detection of rusting, d) Repair of corroded steel, and prevention of continual rusting, e) Simulation and prediction, f) Atmospheric corrosivity assessment, and g) Innovative galvanic protection.
1. Atmospheric corrosivity
It is important to study the atmospheric corrosivity in local areas of Hong Kong, and to collect local data for various sites in different areas. Comparison with the predicted corrosion rates to ISO/DIS 9223 and 9224 based on measured climate data and concentrations of atmospheric chemicals is also made.
Yearly measurements on mass loss in exposed standard metal specimens to ASTM G50-10 and BS EN ISO 8407:2014 will be conducted to assess corrosion resistances of different metallic plates with various corrosion protection, such as pure zinc plates, bare steel plates, and galvanized steel plates exposed under outdoor conditions. Corrosion rates of different metals will be collected through one- year exposure tests.
A corrosion map for local areas of Hong Kong will be developed to establish annual corrosion rates for durability assessment. Calibration will be conducted with different methodology.
