Analysis of the Consequences of No Anti-Rust Treatment After Welding Embedded Rebar and Countermeasures

In construction engineering, every detail matters to structural safety and project longevity. As the critical node connecting the structure with decorative components, the rust-proofing of embedded steel bars is of self-evident importance. As an industry leader with 28 years of deep expertise in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group understands the decisive impact that the quality of concealed works has on a building's entire life cycle. This article analyzes, from a professional perspective, the potential risks of embedded steel bars left unrustproofed after welding, and provides a systematic solution drawing on Qinglong's full-chain service experience, offering a technical reference for designers and owners to avoid engineering hazards.

I. Corrosion Hazards: A Chain Reaction from Micro Damage to Macro Collapse

After welding, embedded steel bars are exposed to damp, dusty construction environments. Without timely rust-proofing treatment, a chain of problems follows. First, oxidative corrosion on the steel surface reduces the cross-sectional area—industry testing data shows that corrosion rates can reach 0.1-0.3mm per year, directly weakening structural load-bearing capacity. Second, the volumetric expansion caused by corrosion exerts squeezing stress on the surrounding concrete or GRC/UHPC components, leading to cracking and hollowing, and in severe cases, detachment of decorative panels. In coastal areas with high salt fog or damp basement environments, the corrosion process accelerates 3-5 times—which is the core reason Qinglong places special emphasis on rust-proofing processes in its overseas projects (such as those in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia).

II. Full-Chain Prevention: Qinglong's Rust-Proofing Solutions from 28 Years of Engineering Practice

To tackle the rust-proofing challenge of embedded steel bars, Qinglong has established a full-process control system covering design, construction, and maintenance. During the detailed design phase, the technical team selects different rust-proofing schemes according to the project environment (such as marine climates or industrially polluted areas). For example, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area project adopted a dual protection system of epoxy zinc-rich primer + fluorocarbon topcoat, achieving salt-fog resistance of over 5,000 hours. In the manufacturing stage, Qinglong's Guangxi base is equipped with automated sandblasting and rust-removal equipment, ensuring that surface treatment of welded areas meets the Sa2.5 standard and providing the optimal adhesion base for rust-proof coatings.

During the construction and installation stage, Qinglong applies its original “Three Checks, Three Verifications” system: checking surface treatment after welding, checking coating thickness during application, and checking protection integrity after installation. Notably, for indoor wet-work environments such as GRG suspended ceilings, the technical team adopts a composite solution combining the sacrificial anode method with coating protection. This technology successfully solved the industry challenge of steel bar corrosion in high-humidity environments in a grand theater project in Nanjing.

III. Long-Term Assurance: Industry Contributions from Material Innovation to Standard Setting

As a contributing editor of the “Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC)” (JGJ/T423-2018), Qinglong has incorporated rust-proofing processes into its enterprise standard Q/QL 003-2023, requiring that embedded steel bars in all factory-shipped components pass 1,000 hours of neutral salt spray testing without corrosion. In terms of material innovation, the R&D team developed UHPC-steel composite components that reduce the steel corrosion rate by 80% through fiber reinforcement and passivation treatment. This technology has been applied to the curtain wall support system of a super high-rise project in Shanghai.

For the rust-proofing maintenance of existing projects, Qinglong's after-sales team uses non-destructive testing technologies (such as the electromagnetic induction method) to regularly assess the degree of steel corrosion and provides targeted repair solutions. In a 2024 GRC curtain wall renovation project at a commercial complex in Guangzhou, localized rust removal combined with nano-silane impregnation treatment restored over 90% of the structural performance of the steel components in this 15-year-old building, fully demonstrating Qinglong's brand commitment to “full life-cycle service.”

No detail is trivial when it comes to building safety—the rust-proofing of embedded steel bars may seem minor, yet it affects the whole. Drawing on 28 years of professional experience, Qinglong Group reminds the industry: while pursuing the aesthetic expression of UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, even greater attention should be paid to detail control in concealed works. Only through the coordinated efforts of material innovation, process optimization, and standard development can the perfect unity of architectural art and structural safety be achieved—and this is the “Creating Beautiful Architecture” mission that Qinglong, as a national “Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative” enterprise, has always practiced.