Hydrophobic Concrete Admixture Product Testing and Validation
Abstract
The Department of Defense spends many millions of dollars annually to repair or replace steel-reinforced structures that are seriously damaged by corrosion. Reinforced concrete is readily damaged by corrosion because the cement/aggregate matrix is porous, allowing corrosive chemicals (e.g., chlorides from marine salts or road-deicing salts) to deeply penetrate structures following wetting/drying cycles. Damage modes include loss of reinforcement steel mass through corrosion and fracturing due to corrosion-product buildup or freeze/thaw cycling. These stresses can destroy a concrete structure many years short of its intended service life. This report documents one of several studies performed or supervised by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to demonstrate or test the efficacy of a commercial hydrophobic concrete admixture in preventing the ingress of water and chlorides into reinforced concrete structures or specimens. Laboratory testing addressed chloride ingress threshold (destructive examination of specimens), absorption, and transport. This report includes an executive summary of the project and a detailed record of all testing program results.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1049188
Entities
People
- Lawrence R. Wachowski
- Matthew A. Miltenberger
- Neal S. Berke
- Paul G. Tourney
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center