Incipient Anode Effect
New corrosion that begins immediately around a concrete repair patch. Repairing one area changes the electrochemical balance along the bar, and the still-contaminated concrete next to the patch becomes the new anode.
On an actual building
It is why cosmetic patching over corroding reinforcement reliably fails, usually in a ring around the repair within a few seasons. Avoiding it means cutting fully behind the bar and beyond the contaminated zone.
What we most often have to correct
That a neat, well-finished patch is a good repair. If it did not go behind the reinforcement, it has probably accelerated the failure it was meant to fix.
Where this comes up in our work
Terms that come up alongside this one
- Spalling
Concrete breaking away from a structural member, pushed off from behind by corrosion products forming on the reinforcement.
- Half-Cell Potential Survey
A non-destructive test that measures the electrical potential between the reinforcement and a reference electrode on the surface, mapping where corrosion is active across a member or elevation..
- Polymer Modified Mortar
Cementitious repair mortar containing polymer additives that improve adhesion, reduce shrinkage and lower permeability compared with plain cement mortar..
More deterioration terms
Incipient Anode Effect — questions we get asked
What does incipient anode effect mean in waterproofing?
New corrosion that begins immediately around a concrete repair patch. Repairing one area changes the electrochemical balance along the bar, and the still-contaminated concrete next to the patch becomes the new anode.
Why does incipient anode effect matter on a real project?
It is why cosmetic patching over corroding reinforcement reliably fails, usually in a ring around the repair within a few seasons. Avoiding it means cutting fully behind the bar and beyond the contaminated zone.
What do people commonly get wrong about incipient anode effect?
That a neat, well-finished patch is a good repair. If it did not go behind the reinforcement, it has probably accelerated the failure it was meant to fix.
Have a building showing this?
If a term on this page describes something you are looking at, a site inspection will tell you how far it has gone and what it needs. It costs nothing.
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