Multiple Corrosion Protection Systems for Reinforced Concrete Bridge Components: Laboratory and Field Tests

Fusion bonded thermoset epoxy-coated reinforcement is evaluated in conjunction with inorganic and organic corrosion inhibitors, bars initially coated with zinc prior to epoxy application, chemical pretreatments and epoxy formulations that increase the adhesion of the epoxy coating, and concretes with reduced water-cement ratios. The performance of corrosion protection systems is compared based on metal loss and disbondment between the epoxy-coating and the underlying steel using Southern Exposure and cracked beam tests in the laboratory and larger-scale slab specimens in the field. Findings after six years of this seven-year study indicate that conventional epoxy-coatings provide significant corrosion protection for reinforcing steel. The main potential weakness of this system is the loss of adhesion between the epoxy coating and the reinforcing steel, which is observed to be significantly greater for bars in cracked concrete than for bars in uncracked concrete. Bars initially coated with zinc prior to epoxy application exhibit lower disbondment than conventional epoxy-coated reinforcement. Concretes with reduced water-cement ratios provide better performance in uncracked concrete but only limited additional corrosion protection in cracked concrete.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Concrete Bridge Council

  Portland Cement Association, 5420 Old Orchard Road
  Skokie, IL  United States  60077-1083

  Portland Cement Association

  5420 Old Orchard Road
  Skokie, IL  United States  60077

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Darwin, David
  • O'Reilly, Matthew E
  • Browning, JoAnn
  • Guo, Guohui
• Conference:
  • 2010 Concrete Bridge Conference: Achieving Safe, Smart & Sustainable Bridges
  • Location: Phoenix Arizona
  • Date: 2010-2-24 to 2010-2-26
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: 2010 Concrete Bridge Conference Proceedings: Achieving Safe, Smart & Sustainable Bridges

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Anticorrosion coatings; Corrosion; Corrosion protection; Corrosion tests; Epoxy coatings; Field tests; Laboratory tests; Reinforcing steel; Zinc coatings
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01165360
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 19 2010 11:16AM