Reinforced Concrete Corrosion Repair & Protection

Concrete deterioration often occurs due to metal corrosion within the structure. This corrosion can affect reinforcing steel, epoxy coated steel, and prestressed concrete, leading to costly repairs or even replacement of the entire structure if left unchecked.

One effective solution to extend the lifespan of new and existing structures is cathodic protection. Simply repairing damaged concrete is not a long-term fix if the underlying issue is corrosion. Even after repair, chloride-contaminated concrete around the rebar can remain, potentially causing new corrosion sites near the repaired areas.

To address this, various cathodic protection methods are available, each delivering a protective electric current to the reinforcing steel but with different advantages and applications.

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) systems use permanent inert electrodes like MMO titanium mesh or conductive ceramics. These systems require an external DC power source to deliver sufficient current to the steel, counteracting the natural corrosion activity in concrete.

Galvanic protection systems, on the other hand, employ galvanic anodes made of metals that differ significantly in voltage from the corroding steel. This voltage difference causes a protective current to flow from the anode through the environment to the corroding structure, effectively preventing further corrosion.

Implementing these cathodic protection methods is crucial for ensuring the longevity of concrete structures. By proactively preventing corrosion, we can avoid costly repairs and replacements, making our infrastructure more durable and sustainable in the long run.