Leading industry group, Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA), has released a comprehensive report on chloride resistance of concrete.
The report may be particularly useful for anyone involved in the specification or construction of reinforced concrete structures.
Specifically, the report discusses the various factors affecting the chloride resistance of concrete, the processes by which chloride ions can be transported into concrete, related test methods and performance specifications. The report also examines additional measures for enhancing the chloride resistance of concrete.
“The high alkalinity of concrete provides inherent protection against corrosion by passivation of the surface of steel reinforcement,” says CCAA’s Research Manager, Dr Vute Sirivivatnanon.
“But in terms of preventing chlorides from reaching the steel surface, concrete’s permeability properties and cover thickness to the reinforcement are more influential than its chemical qualities.
“The integrity of the concrete cover under service load, in terms of cracking and crack width, also influences the resistance to penetrating chlorides.”