Corrosion Inhibitors Admixtures – Protecting Steel Inside Concrete

Carbon steel is one of the most widely used construction materials despite its relatively limited corrosion resistance. Corrosion weakens the physical integrity of any structure, endangers people and the environment.

Corrosion in reinforcing steel is one of the most widespread forms of deterioration of concrete structures resulting in significant costs for repair and replacement worldwide. The concrete admixture industry has developed new techniques that are claimed to prevent the steel from corrosion. These techniques are the introduction of corrosion inhibitors into the carbonated or chloride contaminated concrete. Inhibitors are mixed to the concrete to improve its quality and integrity. In recent years the use of inhibitors in producing high-performance concrete has increased significantly as a result of the harsh environment.

Furthermore, inhibitors are chemical substances that prevent corrosion. They are applied as concrete admixtures for preventive or for restorative applications. Many synthetic compounds (inhibitors) were developed to combats this endemic corrosion problem. The long experience with chemicals operating as corrosion inhibitors has proven their effectiveness in the oil field, gas or petroleum industry, transferring this success also to applications on reinforced concrete. In addition to this, migrating inhibitors play a significant role in the repair and rehabilitation of damaged and chloride-contaminated concrete structures.

The main application methods for corrosion inhibitors mixed with corromix admixtures  include:

• All reinforced concrete used in foundations, ground floors, split slabs, car decks, inverted roofs, basements, underground tunnels, etc.
• All reinforced precast, pre-stressed, post-tensioned or marine concrete structures.
• Concrete substructures in marine environment/splash zones, water reservoirs, swimming pools.
• Pre-cast and all steel reinforced concrete structures exposed to de-icing salts and corrosive environments such as carbonation and atmospheric attack.
• Industrial concrete structures with sulpur vapor.
• Concrete mixed with chlorine water.
• Cooling towers, plant & factory floors subject to chemical and/or acid attack.
• Preventive maintenance, restoration, and repair of all reinforced concrete structures, when utilizing proprietary repair mortars.

The use of corrosion inhibitors could be a promising technique in restoring reinforced concrete structures offering benefits as reduced costs and inconvenience of repairs.

Corrotech Construction Chemicals offers a wide range of admixtures use for the protection of concrete and this includes concrete superplasticizers and corrosion inhibitor admixtures.

Corrotech CI 2005 is a liquid concrete admixture for steel protection, to be added into concrete that decreases the percentage of corrosion in steel inside concrete. Corrotech CI 2005 will see out and form a corrosion inhibiting protective layer on metals when used in fresh concrete. For more information about this corrosion inhibitor admixture, get in touch with us Corrotech Construction Chemicals at +971 4811 2100.