Unwanted water in buildings can cause staining, degradation of building materials, and an environment for mold to grow. Water can come from a few possible sources in a building, including drinking water, sewer plumbing, a leak starting at the exterior of the building envelope, ground water, and a pool if the building has one. The … Continue reading How to Identify the Source of a Water Leak in a Commercial Building
Category: Concrete
Carbonation of Conrete Eliminates Corrosion Passivation Effect of Cement Paste
Concrete and steel together form the backbone of every bridge, building, and road in a symbiotic relationship. The steel gives the concrete higher durability by increasing tensile strength, and the concrete provides physical and chemical barriers for the steel, protecting it from the elements. With exposure to air and water, the chemical properties of the … Continue reading Carbonation of Conrete Eliminates Corrosion Passivation Effect of Cement Paste
Why Does Sulfate in Concrete Matter?
Sulfate in concrete has connotations of being negative and causing durability issues. Issues with sulfate in concrete do emerge when there is too much sulfate present, but it is actually a necessary component in a concrete mixture. As part of a concrete mixture, sulfate reacts with calcium aluminate in the cement, to help control the … Continue reading Why Does Sulfate in Concrete Matter?
How the pH of Concrete is Related to Corrosion Protection
In concrete, steel is often embedded to reinforce the concrete, providing tensile and flexural strength. This combination of steel and concrete allows for some of the most durable and beautiful structures to be built. Concrete, as a building material, has superior compressive strength to most materials, and is durable in many different exposure environments. However, … Continue reading How the pH of Concrete is Related to Corrosion Protection
Why does chloride in concrete matter? What’s the difference between water-soluble chloride and acid-soluble chloride?
One of the most common chemical analyses performed on concrete is chloride analysis. Grouts, mortars, soils, and water samples are also often tested for chloride. Chloride is a negatively charged ion that has the ability to react with the iron in steel reinforcing, causing corrosion. This can lead to cracking of concrete due to the … Continue reading Why does chloride in concrete matter? What’s the difference between water-soluble chloride and acid-soluble chloride?
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