Concrete Corrosion Inhibitors Association (CCIA)

Long cracks parallel to rebars may indicate expansion due to interior corrosion!

Corrosion Inhibitors Are Proven Technology in Roads, Bridges, Parking Garages, Wastewater Treatment Plants, Port Facilities and Many Other Structures.

Buying an admixture company's experience:
a good investment!

Many corrosion inhibitors are produced, but only a few can be used in concrete. The setting and strength building processes in concrete depend on delicate chemical reactions. For example, a soft drink accidentally spilled may ruin a batch of concrete. Concrete corrosion inhibitors may accelerate or retard set, reduce strength or decrease the effect of the air entraining agent. Admixture combinations which produce short delays in lab testing may cause more than an eighteen hour delay in the field. The corrosion inhibitors sold by the companies of CCIA are manufactured to rigorous standards to provide trouble free protection. Information on the correct use of these corrosion inhibitors is always supplied with the products.

Lower permeability and increased strength are frequently achieved by use of pozzolanic materials like silica fume, slag and fly ash. When a corrosion inhibitor, water reducer and/or superplasticizer are also chosen, the specific products and their addition rates must be selected carefully. The CCIA companies can help you formulate trouble free High Performance Concrete.

Unnecessary risks may be associated with generic corrosion inhibitors. It is recognized that project delays caused by field performance problems cost money. If a bridge has corrosion protection, but inadequate air entrainment develops because of the corrosion inhibitor used, the whole project suffers. Are the effects of the pozzolan and the benefits of the inhibitor simply additive? Or will other admixtures be necessary? Will finishing be as easy as you expect? The proven leaders in this field, provide experience to aid one in inhibiting corrosion without incurring other problems.

The Randolph Street Bridge

The January 2002 issue of The Construction Specifier updated observations of the bridge over I-35E in St. Paul, MN. The bridge was constructed in 1963 and rehabilitated in 1986. Spalled and delaminated areas were removed and the westbound lanes were treated with amine-based MCI 2000 migrating corrosion inhibitor. Results show that a corrosion inhibitor, when properly used, has mitigated further corrosion.

CCIA Assistance Available

The members of the Concrete Corrosion Inhibitors Association (CCIA) are Axim Concrete Technologies, Grace Construction Products and Master Builders. These major suppliers produce corrosion inhibitors that have been tested and sold for use in severe conditions for many years. For information, see our web page www.corrosioninhibitors.org or call us at 301/340-7368.