This paper evaluates the amount of KMnO₄ in simulated concrete pore solution (pH 12.8) on the corrosion behaviour of hot-dip galvanized steel (HDG). In the range of used MnO₄⁻ (10⁻⁴, 10⁻³, 10⁻² mol·L⁻¹), corrosion behaviour is examined with regard to hydrogen evolution and composition (protective barrier properties) of forming corrosion products. The corrosion behaviour of HDG samples is evaluated using R_p/E_corr and EIS. The composition of corrosion products is evaluated using SEM, XRD, XPS and AAS. The effective MnO₄⁻ ion concentration to prevent the corrosion of coating with hydrogen evolution is 10⁻³ mol·L⁻¹; lower concentrations only prolong the time to passivation (corrosion with hydrogen evolution). The highest used MnO₄⁻ concentration ensures corrosion behaviour without hydrogen evolution but also leads to the formation of less-protective amorphous corrosion products rich in Mn^II/Mn^III phases.

Kevlar fibers are widely used for industrial and military purposes due to their remarkable mechanical properties, such as their high tenacity and high strength-to-weight ratio. In this study, two-layered Kevlar composite specimens were impregnated with 10 wt.% poly (vinyl butyral)/ethanol solution which contained TiO₂ nanoparticles as reinforcement. The concentrations of the nanoparticles were 1 wt.% or 2 wt.% with respect to the poly (vinyl butyral), PVB. The single-axial tensile test and three-point bending test of the Kevlar/PVB composites have been performed according to the ASTM D 3039 and ASTM D 790-03 standards, respectively. The tensile and bending properties of the dry and wet Kevlar/PVB composite specimens after a 56-day immersion are examined in this work. Upon the addition of the 2 wt.% TiO₂ nanoparticles, the tensile strength and modulus of the dry specimens without reinforcement were increased by 39.8% and 24.3%, respectively. All the submerged specimens’ tensile and flexural property values were lower than those of the dry specimens. After comparing the wet composite specimens to their dry counterparts, the percentage decrease in tensile strength was approximately 20%. The wet Kevlar/PVB specimens with no TiO₂ reinforcement showed the greatest reduction in bending strength, 61.4% less than for the dry Kevlar/PVB specimens, due to the degradation of the PVB matrix. In addition, a numerical simulation of the three-point bending test was carried out in Abaqus.

In this paper, the effect of gradually increasing amounts of KMnO₄ (10⁻⁴, 10⁻³, 10⁻² mol·L⁻¹) in cement paste on the bond strength of a plain hot-dip galvanized steel bar was evaluated. The open-circuit potential of HDG samples in cement paste with various additions of MnO₄⁻ was monitored in order to follow a transfer of zinc from activity to passivity. Furthermore, the influence of the addition of these anions on the physicochemical properties of normal-strength concrete or cement paste was evaluated by means of hydration heat measurements, X-ray diffraction analysis, and compressive strength. The effective concentration of MnO₄⁻ anions prevents the corrosion of the coating with hydrogen evolution and ensures that the bond strength is not reduced by their action, which was determined to be 10⁻³ mol·L⁻¹. Lower additions of MnO₄⁻ anions (10⁻⁴ mol·L⁻¹) are ineffective in this respect. On the other hand, higher additions of MnO₄⁻ anions (10⁻² mol·L⁻¹), although they ensure the corrosion of the coating in fresh concrete without hydrogen evolution, but affect the hydration process of the cement paste that was demonstrated by slight water separation.