Inhibiting Chloride-Induced Corrosion of Steel Reinforcement

The ability of concrete building and infrastructure products to withstand the test of time is undoubtedly one of the biggest on-going challenges faced by the civil engineering sector.
Corrosion inhibitors are seen as a straightforward and cost-effective solution to overcoming this widespread challenge. However, the effectiveness of many of these products remains to be seen.
Saint-Gobain Weber, recognises the importance of providing engineering, construction and infrastructure professionals with a proven solution to concrete corrosion.
Weber appointed the Centre for the Built and Natural Environment department at Coventry University to carry out a pioneering research project into the effectiveness of webertec MCIconcrete corrosion inhibitor.
Several tests were independently carried out by Coventry University. The Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) test was conducted to determine the change in the apparent corrosion rate of a sample after application of webertec MCI compared to a control sample.

After 70 days, the corrosion rate in the control samples increased by 50%, moving from a moderate to high corrosion rate as per criterion given in Concrete Society Technical Report 60. The sample prepared with the application of webertec MCI reduced the corrosion rate, seeing it fall by 26%.

The results of the tests show that although webertec MCI cannot stop corrosion completely, or reverse corrosion that has already started, it can slow down the overall rate of corrosion.

For more information about webertec MCI, visit www.uk.weber