New method detects corrosion in reinforced concrete, even in hard-to-reach places
January 22, 2025 – Many reinforced concrete structures have been built in Switzerland and Central Europe since the 1960s. Time leaves its mark: chemical changes in the concrete may result in steel corrosion. Researchers at ETH Zurich have now developed an innovative method for precisely locating corrosion, even in difficult-to-access structures such as retaining walls, tunnels and bridges. The method is based on electrochemical measurements. This makes it possible to determine the probability of corrosion without having to laboriously chisel into or partially destroy the concrete structures.
In the meantime, a number of ETH scientists have founded a startup for the further commercialization of the method.