Performance Evaluation of Silane in Concrete Bridge Decks Using Transmission X-ray Microscopy

The corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete structures is a most widespread problem. Silane is commonly used as a surface treatment material to reduce the entry of moisture containing harmful chemicals into the concrete matrix, thereby restricting corrosion. There is not a standard test method...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amir Behravan, Syed Muhammad Aqib, Norbert J. Delatte, M. Tyler Ley, Anna Rywelski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/5/2557
_version_ 1797475610937786368
author Amir Behravan
Syed Muhammad Aqib
Norbert J. Delatte
M. Tyler Ley
Anna Rywelski
author_facet Amir Behravan
Syed Muhammad Aqib
Norbert J. Delatte
M. Tyler Ley
Anna Rywelski
author_sort Amir Behravan
collection DOAJ
description The corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete structures is a most widespread problem. Silane is commonly used as a surface treatment material to reduce the entry of moisture containing harmful chemicals into the concrete matrix, thereby restricting corrosion. There is not a standard test method to evaluate the long-term performance of such sealers when applied on concrete. Moreover, the literature does not have a definitive conclusion on the performance of silanes. In this work, transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) and optical imaging were used to investigate the mass transport properties and silane thickness of field samples treated with silane to gain insight into the performance of silane coatings. Quantitative measurements using optical staining techniques showed that the average measured silane thickness for all 14 projects was 2.5 mm. The TXM results revealed that, on average, the samples with silane coatings exhibited 8.5 times less penetration of outside chemicals, at a depth of 2 mm, as compared to uncracked samples without silane coatings. This work shows that silanes are a useful and practical tool to significantly reduce the permeability of in-service concrete and resist corrosion.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T20:47:36Z
format Article
id doaj.art-594edbdcec9d4ad49793235da1a8bc72
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2076-3417
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T20:47:36Z
publishDate 2022-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj.art-594edbdcec9d4ad49793235da1a8bc722023-11-23T22:42:44ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-02-01125255710.3390/app12052557Performance Evaluation of Silane in Concrete Bridge Decks Using Transmission X-ray MicroscopyAmir Behravan0Syed Muhammad Aqib1Norbert J. Delatte2M. Tyler Ley3Anna Rywelski4Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USAThe corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete structures is a most widespread problem. Silane is commonly used as a surface treatment material to reduce the entry of moisture containing harmful chemicals into the concrete matrix, thereby restricting corrosion. There is not a standard test method to evaluate the long-term performance of such sealers when applied on concrete. Moreover, the literature does not have a definitive conclusion on the performance of silanes. In this work, transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) and optical imaging were used to investigate the mass transport properties and silane thickness of field samples treated with silane to gain insight into the performance of silane coatings. Quantitative measurements using optical staining techniques showed that the average measured silane thickness for all 14 projects was 2.5 mm. The TXM results revealed that, on average, the samples with silane coatings exhibited 8.5 times less penetration of outside chemicals, at a depth of 2 mm, as compared to uncracked samples without silane coatings. This work shows that silanes are a useful and practical tool to significantly reduce the permeability of in-service concrete and resist corrosion.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/5/2557silane treatmenthydrophobic coatingconcretemass transportdurabilitychloride
spellingShingle Amir Behravan
Syed Muhammad Aqib
Norbert J. Delatte
M. Tyler Ley
Anna Rywelski
Performance Evaluation of Silane in Concrete Bridge Decks Using Transmission X-ray Microscopy
Applied Sciences
silane treatment
hydrophobic coating
concrete
mass transport
durability
chloride
title Performance Evaluation of Silane in Concrete Bridge Decks Using Transmission X-ray Microscopy
title_full Performance Evaluation of Silane in Concrete Bridge Decks Using Transmission X-ray Microscopy
title_fullStr Performance Evaluation of Silane in Concrete Bridge Decks Using Transmission X-ray Microscopy
title_full_unstemmed Performance Evaluation of Silane in Concrete Bridge Decks Using Transmission X-ray Microscopy
title_short Performance Evaluation of Silane in Concrete Bridge Decks Using Transmission X-ray Microscopy
title_sort performance evaluation of silane in concrete bridge decks using transmission x ray microscopy
topic silane treatment
hydrophobic coating
concrete
mass transport
durability
chloride
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/5/2557
work_keys_str_mv AT amirbehravan performanceevaluationofsilaneinconcretebridgedecksusingtransmissionxraymicroscopy
AT syedmuhammadaqib performanceevaluationofsilaneinconcretebridgedecksusingtransmissionxraymicroscopy
AT norbertjdelatte performanceevaluationofsilaneinconcretebridgedecksusingtransmissionxraymicroscopy
AT mtylerley performanceevaluationofsilaneinconcretebridgedecksusingtransmissionxraymicroscopy
AT annarywelski performanceevaluationofsilaneinconcretebridgedecksusingtransmissionxraymicroscopy