Open AccessSTRUCTURAL DESIGN OF POLYMER PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES. PART I: THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Author(s) -
Zeas Kamaitis
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of civil engineering and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.529
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1822-3605
pISSN - 1392-3730
DOI - 10.3846/13923730.2007.9636414
Subject(s) - materials science , durability , polymer , coating , corrosion , penetration (warfare) , composite material , degradation (telecommunications) , polymer concrete , forensic engineering , computer science , engineering , telecommunications , operations research , cement
In a number of situations reinforced concrete structures must be protected by barrier materials to prevent contact with aggressive agents. One of the ways to protect concrete structures from corrosion is to use protective polymer coatings. Polymers as coating materials are not totally resistant and impermeable to all aggressive agents. Gases, vapors and liquids penetrate into a polymer so that the polymer mass swells and eventually disintegrates. However, the penetration/disintegration progresses at a much lower rate than that in the concrete. Surface coatings are able to reduce considerably the penetration, to slow down the rate of deterioration of concrete cover and to overcome most durability problems associated with external attack. In this article the mechanism of degradation of polymer coatings are analyzed. Methodology and predictive models for the degradation over time caused by aggressive actions of polymer coatings are presented. Proposed models can be applied to design of polymer coatings. Such a design of coatings is presented in a simple form for engineering design purposes.