WHAT IS CORROSION PREVENTION?

Corrosion Prevention of reinforced concrete structures is an increasingly important method of repairing and protecting spalling concrete, damaged bridges, steel framed buildings, harbours, wharves and other structures.

It can also be applied to protect new structures, applying corrosion prevention techniques, to ensure the problem does not occur in the first place.

Corrosion is probably the single most serious cause of deterioration of reinforced concrete structures. Buildings and bridges are suffering from corrosion because of contamination by de-icing salt, sea salt and salts cast into the concrete and the carbonation of concrete. A Dept of Transport report has shown that over half a billion pounds worth of corrosion prevention is necessary in the future to preserve the motorway and trunk road system in England and Wales. The Highways Agency has recently endorsed the use of corrosion prevention methods utilising cathodic protection, realkalisation, chloride extraction, corrosion inhibitors and other similar techniques. Comparable problems exist on other reinforced concrete structures all over the world.

These well proven methods are technically sound solutions because they deal with the corrosion problem across the entire area treated. This cannot be achieved with conventional repair methods without removing all the concrete where salt or carbon dioxide has penetrated. Such extensive repair is frequently prohibitive in terms of practicality and cost.

Corrosion prevention is often the most economical solution when compared with conventional concrete removal and repair. When applying corrosion prevention techniques to existing structures all that is additionally required is some cosmetic patching to repair cracks and areas where concrete has broken away.

Corrosion prevention and protection systems have been successfully installed on a wide range of reinforced concrete structures. These include bridge decks and support structures, wharves and other harbour structures, tunnels, water towers and other containment vessels, commercial and residential buildings. Installations have been carried out in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle and the Far East and Australasia.

Click here to download CPA Technical Notes publications on technology, basic principles, history and benefit of using corrosion prevention techniques