Reinforced concrete corrosion prevention/reduction by hydrophobic impregnation

Abstract

The prevention of corrosion in reinforced concrete structures can be achieved by different means. The aim of this paper is to present the efficiency of corrosion prevention using silane hydrophobic impregnation, through laboratory investigations as well from long term field studies. The laboratory investigation was carried out in Zürich, is based on modified ASTM C109, where the product was applied on cracked concrete beams (before cracking and before corrosion initiation; after cracking and before corrosion initiation and finally after cracking and after corrosion initiation). The long term field studies were carried out over 12-years exposure to de-icing salts in a Swiss tunnel, and after 10 years exposure to a marine zone simulation in Japan. This paper will show that the use of a silane hydrophobic impregnation can be an effective way to reduce the risk of corrosion for concrete structures, including structures exposed to chlorides in a marine environment, or from the use of de-icing salts in winter time.