Stainless steel rebar - worldstainless

The need for structures –typically bridges and piers – that last one hundred years or more with little or no maintenance rather than the much shorter design life used so far is now widely accepted as cost saving for the community.

Stainless steel reinforcing bar in concrete is increasingly used as a straightforward and reliable way to resist corrosion and to provide the adequate service life.

You will find either directly or through the references provided the answers to most the questions you may have regarding stainless steel reinforcing bar.

The contents have been prepared by an international Task Force of industry experts.

Do not hesitate to contact us with remarks, suggestions or questions at info@worldstainless.org

Stainless Steel Reinforcement Webinar

Stainless steels are one of the ultimate low or zero maintenance materials therefore if you would like to learn more about how reinforcement by selectively using stainless steels can provide us with safe, sustainable and cost-effective structures over the long term. This webinar has ended, but you can watch a recording here.

Why does rebar corrode?

Premature deterioration of reinforced concrete structures has become a serious problem worldwide due to corrosion of the embedded steel.

Where to use stainless?

Stainless steel rebar should be considered in the following cases:

Why stainless?

The benefits of using stainless steel are many; because it is highly resistant to corrosion from chloride ion; it does not rely on the high alkalinity of concrete for protection; the concrete cover can be reduced; the concrete sealant, such as Silane, can be eliminated; concrete mix can be simplified to suit concrete design needs not for rebar protection needs; it improves durability; it reduces maintenance and repair; it can be used selectively for high risk elements cost-effectively; it will eventually be recycled

Stainless rebar properties

A steel qualifies as stainless if its chromium (Cr) content lies above 10.5%. Below this limit the passive layer is not sufficiently stable and protective for corrosive environments.

Applications

In Europe stainless steel rebars have been widely used since the mid-80s. In North America, their use in highway bridges has been steadily growing since the mid-90s. Below, you can find some examples of structures that have used stainless steel rebar.