Title:
Estimating the Service Life of Epoxy Coated Reinforcing Steel
Author(s):
Richard E. Weyers Wioleta Pul, and Michael M. Sprinkel
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
95
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
546-557
Keywords:
coating debondment; corrosion mechanism; corrosion protection;
cost-effectiveness; epoxy resins;
DOI:
10.14359/397
Date:
9/1/1998
Abstract:
Corrosion protection performance of fusion bonded epoxy coated reinforcing steel (FBECR) was evaluated in chloride doped simulated concrete pore water solutions and field structures. Results demonstrate that different corrosion protection failure mode exists in the field than in short-term laboratory studies.In laboratory studies, the chloride is at the bar surface area immediately and the degree of corrosion protection is a function of the quality of the coating. In field structures, the epoxy coating debonds from the steel in moist-wet concrete. The rate of epoxy debondment and the chloride increase at the bar depth determine if the chloride corrosion threshold limit is reached before or after the epoxy debonds. If the coating is debonded when the chlorides reach the corrosion threshold limit corrosion takes place under the coating in an acidic environment and the corrosion protection of FBECR is nil. In Virginia, FBECR may provide protection for about 5 percent of the bridge decks and thus FBECR may not be a cost effective corrosion protection system for Virginia bridges.