Concrete Corrosion refers to the degradation of concrete due to exposure to certain corrosive substances; usually sulfur compounds. Although concrete corrosion can also be caused by other factors as well, such as salty or acidic water, microbes, chlorides, nitrates, or fluorides.
Sulfuric acid can form when sulfur, which is common in certain industrial processes, comes into contact with moisture. Sulfuric acid is highly corrosive and can break down the various calcium compounds in the cement part of the concrete, causing the concrete to become soft and give way.
Concrete corrosion is especially dangerous due to the fact that concrete is porous; it has tiny interconnected holes that run through it’s structure. This allows the corrosive materials to soak into the material and cause damage from within.
The concrete itself though isn’t the only thing that’s at risk from concrete corrosion. Most concrete structures are reinforced via an embedded grid of steel bars, which provide most of the structure’s strength. If the acid corroding the concrete reaches the steel inside, these bars can begin to corrode as well, greatly weakening the structure.
How quickly the corrosion occurs depends on a number of factors such as the amount of corrosive materials, any moisture in the environment, if the material is flowing, and how well the material has been constructed. Corrosion can easily be identified with a visual inspection by identifying discolored areas in the concrete or areas where the concrete has begun to show signs of damage.
Thankfully, when it comes to concrete corrosion there are several methods of prevention, including specialty cements with reduced calcium, this will give sulfuric acid less material to work against. Another approach is to utilize surface treatments or paint applications using varnish, oil, or lacquer-based paints to help protect against corrosion.
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