GRAVITY-FILL POLYMER CRACK SEALERS

Cracking in bridge deck concrete is a serious problem. Cracks allow the direct infiltration of water and chloride ion and the carbonation of the walls of the crack, causing the reinforcing steel to corrode. Gravity-fill polymer crack sealers consist of two or more low-viscosity liquid monomer or polymer components that can be mixed and poured directly over a cracked surface. The monomer or polymer fills the cracks and hardens into polymer. The laboratory evaluation of three two-component epoxies, a three-component high-molecular-weight methacrylate, and a two-component polyurethane is described. Tests included measurements of the flexural strengths and freeze-thaw durabilities of repaired beams and the gel times and penetration abilities of the sealers. The five sealers were evaluated with respect to the effects of temperature and crack width on the quality of the repair, cost, ease of application, safety, appearance, and odor. The gravity-fill polymer crack sealers completely penetrated 0.2-mm-wide cracks, restored >100% of the original flexural strengths of the beams, had satisfactory freeze-thaw durabilities, and had gel times that decreased as the temperature increased. The laboratory tests suggest that all five gravity-fill polymer crack sealers can adequately seal cracks in bridge deck concrete.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1995/1490/1490-006.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=GRAVITY-FILL+POLYMER+CRACK+SEALERS&author=M.+Sprinkel&author=M.+DeMars&publication_year=1995
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309061547
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1490, Management and Maintenance of Bridge Structures. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Sprinkel, Michael M
  • DeMars, Mary
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 43-53
• Monograph Title: Management and maintenance of bridge structures
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1490
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Concrete; Concrete setting; Costs; Cracking; Epoxides; Flexural strength; Fracture mechanics; Freeze thaw durability; Laboratory tests; Odors; Pendulum tests; Polymers; Polyurethane resins; Safety; Sealing compounds; Temperature; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack width; Setting time
• Old TRIS Terms: Epoxy; Methacrylate
• Subject Areas: Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Safety and Human Factors; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00714813
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309061547
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 30 1995 12:00AM