Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Shaun A. Hurley
17.1 Introduction
Coatings, normally in the form of proprietary products, are commonly used
on mass or reinforced concrete to:
• Prevent premature deterioration
• Limit or control ingress of gases or aggressive chemicals
• Enhance appearance
•
Modify other surface properties; for example, water repellency, slip
resistance, colour or impact and abrasion resistance.
Products are available for internal, external, underwater and trafficked
surfaces.
The following related products are outside the scope of this discussion:
• Thick renders, floor toppings and gunite
• Waterproofing membranes for car parks/bridges
• Preformed sheet membranes for waterproofing
• Protective tapes
• Curing membranes
• Fire protection systems
• Coatings associated with electrochemical techniques that halt or
prevent reinforcement corrosion (cathodic protection, desalination or
realkalisation)
•
Coatings for steel reinforcement and active corrosion inhibitors.
17.2 Why use coatings?
Uncoated concrete provides a long service life in many environments. In
aggressive conditions requiring additional surface protection, concrete can
still remain an attractive construction material due to its versatility and
relatively low cost. For some applications, protection against various forms of
deterioration and/or ingress/transmission may be essential; for others, it may
