Title: Epoxy Sealer for Bridge Maintenance: A Case History

Author(s): Paul D. Carter

Publication: Concrete International

Volume: 16

Issue: 8

Appears on pages(s): 60-62

Keywords: bridges; chlorides; corrosion; deterioration; maintenance; sealers; Construction

DOI:

Date: 8/1/1994

Abstract:
The successful use of epoxy sealer as maintenance on deteriorating concrete bridge curbs and median is discussed. The sealing maintenance was done as a follow-up to the removal and patching of deteriorated concrete caused by insufficient reinforcing bar cover in a heavily salted location. A previous repair had involved patching without the use of sealer and was unsuccessful in stopping the deterioration caused by reinforcing bar corrosion. Several other maintenance procedures aided the repair. These included crack repairs, installation of retrofit drains to allow chlorides to escape from ponded areas, and increasing reinforcing bar cover in the damaged areas. An attempt is presented to quantify the effectiveness of the epoxy sealing by comparing subsequent versus projected estimates of deterioration.