Use of a Handheld X-ray Fluorescence Analyser to Quantify Chloride Ions In Situ: A Case Study of Structural Repair

To ensure that a structure will last throughout its service life, repairing reinforced concrete entails, among others, correctly marking off the area affected by aggressive agents that may deteriorate both the concrete and the steel. Chloride, the most damaging source of reinforcement corrosion, may diffuse to a greater or lesser distance from the surface depending on the ease of penetration. In this study, we calibrated a handheld X-ray fluorescence analyser (hXRF) and used it to quantify the chloride concentration in cement-based materials. The findings were verified against a series of samples of known concentration to establish a suitable correction factor. Chloride ions were quantified precisely and accurately with the hXRF instrument, and we calculated a correction factor of 1.16. The instrument and the information recorded were used to quantify the chloride ion content in different parts of an existing structure. The analyser identified apparently healthy areas that could, nonetheless, pose oxidation problems in the near future due to significant chloride concentration. Chloride quantification data at different depths can be used to draw diffusion or penetration profiles and to determine whether ion concentration around the reinforcement is within the recommended limits. The method developed can be applied in situ to quickly locate the most critical areas.