Durable Concrete Tanks

Improving resistance to
corrosive attack
Presented at the WPCA meeting January
2010
By Sam Lines, Concrete Sealants, Inc.
 The Problem
Corrosion

T h is u se d to b e
a
D istrib u tio n B ox

0 . 58 WCR
 Concrete Deterioration
Possible causes of concrete


deterioration:
H2S Attack
– Hydrogen sulfide oxidation = H2SO4
sulfuric acid
– Reacts with Ca(OH)2 (free lime) to
become gypsum
– Gypsum reacts with aluminates to form
ettringite
Microbial Induced Corrosion
– Through a biological chain, H2S is
 Concrete Deterioration

Other types of attack include:



Carbonation
Chloride-ion Attack
Dry shrinkage cracking
Problem Concrete
 Durability: Your Best
Defense
Durable concrete is the result of:


A properly proportioned mix

A low water-to-cementitious materials
ratio
The use of Admixtures and Secondary
Cementitious Materials (SCM’s)
Proper Curing Techniques
Sealers / Densifiers / Coatings
Quality Concrete Products
Quality Concrete Products
Proportioning
P ro p o rtio n in g
Cement Hydration

Cement hydration produces

four parts C-S-H (glue) plus
one part Ca(OH)2 (free lime)

“Glue”

“I’m Outta Here!”

 Proportioning
Water
WCR =
Weight of Water to
Weight of Cementitious
Materials

I I
TypeType
Type I
 Water/Cementitious Materials
Ratio
Low water/cementitious materials ratios
are critical for
increased concrete strength
water tightness
increased durability
High water/cementitious materials ratios
High water content will evaporate,
leaving large capillary pores
Increased porosity
Decreased strength
 Importance of a Low
WCR
A low water-to-cement ratio (below 0.45) will produce a denser
concrete with a lower porosity than that of a high water-to-cement
ratio.

Dense concrete is stronger and more durable than porous concrete.

WCR and Permeability
Concrete Curing Effects
 Curing Agents

Cylinders 1-4 and 9 have a Cure and Seal applied.

All cylinders were field cured after 24 hours.

Photo is at 28 days of age.

 Sealers and Densifiers

Penetrating sealers can be used with

old and new concrete.
The chemicals react with the free
lime present in the concrete and
form a pore blocking crystalline
structure.
Some densifiers are added to the
concrete in the mixer.
Most are either Silicates, Silanes, or
Siloxanes
 Penetrating Sealers /
Densifiers
Seale Unsealed
d

Initial Water Placed on Sample

Effects of Water After 120 Minutes

Both samples of concrete are from the same mix, cured in the same manner.
 Conclusion
Remember: Not all concrete is the
same!!!
Durable concrete with low porosity
provides better resistance to
chemical attack
Good production practices produce
good concrete products:
– Well designed / proportioned mixes
– Low water-to-cement ratios
– Proper early age curing