The Effect of Temperatures on the Passivation Behavior of Q235 Steel in the Simulated Concrete Pore Solution

Concrete, especially mass concrete, releases a large amount of heat during the hydration process, resulting in the passivation of reinforcement at high temperatures. However, the passivation study of reinforced concrete is mostly conducted at room temperature, and the influence of temperature on passive film behavior is not clear at present. The passivation film of reinforcing steel directly determines the corrosion resistance of reinforcing steel and affects the service life of reinforced concrete. Herein, the passivation of Q235 steel soaking in simulated concrete pore (SCP) solution at 20 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C is explored. It is found that the passivation process is divided into two stages, with 24 h as the boundary; within 24 h the passivation was carried out rapidly, and the passive film is in a relatively stable state after 24 h. In addition, the higher the temperature, the faster the passivation. Moreover, under the condition of higher temperatures, more Fe(3+) compounds are produced, and the semiconductor properties of passivated films are more stable. Based on experiments, the passivation mechanism affected by temperature was analyzed in detail.