Technology

Electrochemical Methods provide some important advantages in determining and repairing of corrosion damages at reinforced concrete structures. Some key benefits are listed below. More detailed information about causes and economical consequences of corrosion are currently available in German language and will be posted for downloading in English language soon.

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Details about the Technology (German Version, 267 KB)

1. Diagnosis

With non-destructive testing (e.g. potential- and resistivity measurements) large structural sections can be checked quickly and obviously on rebar corrosion. Additional measurements can be selected focused and cost-effective (chloride profiles, carbonation depths). This results in following advantages:

the corrosion affected areas can be localized exactly, even in zones that do not show signs of concrete deterioration
tasks for an appropriate repair can be given precisely; also for conventional repairs an exact evaluation of corrosion affected and corrosion safe areas can be delivered and leads towards a new quality in the design of a concrete repair

2. Repair and rehabilitation

Just Electrochemical Methods are able to eliminate corrosion causes and not only to treat results of corrosion. Entire structural sections can be rehabilitated within a few weeks, and the structure itself is being treated as gently as possible. In general terms this means:

Preservation of the structure, avoiding of (unacceptable) concrete removal (e.g. at pre-stressed bridge decks whose caps are chloride bearing)
no additional loads
practically no dust or noise
no consumption of traffic area (e.g. at chloride bearing center columns of bridges or on walls of tunnels with small or no shoulder)
considerably less danger of accidents within site area
just low need of working area during the installation (e.g. at the rehabilitation of chloride affected box girders with limited access opportunity)
improvement of the corrosion resistance of the concrete by (re-) alkalization of the rebar vicinity
a lower frequency of repair

The method of electrochemical chloride removal developed by CITec offers some more advantages compared to the known applications:

a raised efficiency (lower power consumption, improved removal ability - > 70%), also a good desalination effect between 2 rebar layers possible
consideration of individual structural constitutions as different concrete cover by small scaled, separately treatable zones (min. 60 x 60 cm)
an exact, thorough documentation of the application and a detailed proof of success
no affection of the concrete surface – important at facing concrete areas
highly environmentally adoptable by avoiding any waste or chlorine gas development

Besides of the chloride removal carbonated concrete can be re-alkalized and be restored in its protective ability against rebar corrosion.

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