The Problems Caused by Corrosion
Owners and operators of infrastructure facilities are facing a serious corrosion problem due to premature deterioration of the concrete caused by corroding reinforcement.
The corrosion of steel rebar due to man-induced sources such as road salt or chemical processing, or natural causes such as marine spray, results in a severe deterioration which is typically exemplified by what is normally described as spalling of concrete structures.
Reinforcement corrosion is the most serious cause of deterioration of concrete structures which has the effect of causing frequent and costly repairs while dramatically reducing service life.
Traditional approaches to dealing with deteriorating concrete involved in either making changes to the design of the concrete which envelopes the reinforcement, or adding more concrete cover and deck sealants rather than opting for corrosion resistant reinforcement.
Highway infrastructure repairs, and the ensuing traffic congestion attributable to deteriorating concrete from rebar corrosion, is a cause of immense frustration to the travelling public. This in turn puts tremendous pressure on infrastructure Owners and their representatives, be they specifiers, designers, operators, or planners, to solve the issues of …
the heavy cost burden of excessive repair and maintenance costs,
the economic consequences of reduced roadway or other infrastructure traffic,
the cost impact on users, and ultimately, and
the avoidable premature replacement of structures.
Avoidable Corrosion Issues with Stainless Steel Rebar
Premature repairs to all other infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, marine structures, or ports, etc. subjected to corrosion are a substantial cost and inconvenience to the users.
Carbon steel reinforcement, coated and other low alloy steel rebar will readily corrode in the presence of chlorides. The concrete will crack and spall prematurely leading to a loss of bond between the steel and the concrete (spalling). At this point the structure must undergo major repair or be condemned.
The Corrosion Issue is largely solved with the use of SSR.