Effect of cation type of chloride salts on corrosion behaviour of steel in concrete powder electrolyte solution in the presence of corrosion inhibitors

[Display omitted] •Cation type associated with chloride ions significantly affected compressive strength of concrete.•Boundary potentials of different zones of corrosion were obtained in presence of chloride salts and corrosion inhibitors.•Corrosion inhibitors influenced the effect of cation type of chloride salts on passivity of reinforcing steel.•Cation type associated with chloride ions affected free chloride ion and bound chloride ion concentrations.•Sodium nitrite was more effective in enhancing passivity of steel than di-Sodium hydrogen phosphate. In this research, effect of cation type of chloride salts on corrosion behaviour of steel was determined by potentiodynamic polarization test in concrete powder electrolyte solution in presence of corrosion inhibitors. Results showed that cation type of chloride salts not only affected compressive strength of concrete but also passivity of steel and chloride binding. The decreasing trend of bound chloride concentration was CB: CaCl2 > CB: MgCl2 > CB: NaCl. Formation of various compounds in concrete was confirmed through XRD and FTIR spectroscopy analyses. Sodium nitrite was more effective in enhancing passivity of steel than di-Sodium hydrogen phosphate.