Does calcium chloride increase the chloride content of cement paste, affecting the likelihood of reinforcing steel corrosion?

Calcium chloride is often used as an accelerator in concrete mixtures to speed up the curing process, especially in cold weather conditions. However, while it does introduce chloride ions into the mix, the specific question concerns its impact on the likelihood of reinforcing steel corrosion in cement paste.

When calcium chloride is added to cement paste, it does result in increased chloride content. However, whether this increase significantly affects corrosion usually depends on several factors, such as the concrete’s permeability, the concentration of chlorides, the presence of moisture, and the conditions under which the concrete is cured and aged.

In general, if the concentration of chlorides in the concrete matrix exceeds a certain threshold, reinforcing steel can be at risk of corrosion. In practice, normal dosages of calcium chloride (typically around 2% to 3% by weight of cement) do not typically raise chloride levels to a point that would lead to increased corrosion risk in moderate conditions. Therefore, under typical dry curing conditions, the statement that calcium chloride does not significantly increase the likelihood of corrosion in terms of its impact on chloride content in cement paste holds true, rendering the answer as accurate.

Thus, the assertion that calcium chloride does not increase the chloride content of cement paste to a hazardous level relevant to reinforcing