Fundamentals of Concrete Protection - Extending Service Life of New Structures and Protecting Distressed Structures
Introduction

Very simply, concrete has two tendencies that render it susceptible to water and pollutants. Concrete has porosity due to capillarity and concrete will crack. Porosity of concrete and cracking can be minimized using good mix design, production and placing techniques, however it cannot be eliminated entirely. Therefore durability of concrete can only be enhanced by use of apt protective coatings that can form a physical and a chemical barrier against ingress of water, chlorides, CO2 and SO2. Paints and other decorative coatings are designed for aesthetic purposes and normally not for protection of concrete against carbonation, chloride attack, UV radiations and for crack bridging properties.
The same principle is applicable to repair of concrete structures as well. Since cover is the first line of defense to inhibit corrosion, the repair and rehabilitation is recreation of cover with a high protection quotient.
Concrete Protection thus becomes a key Step in PREVENTING repairs of structures and helps enhance the life of suitably repaired distressed structures. It is thus fitting for this practice to be incorporated for new structures and most certainly used to protect repaired structures.
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