One of the biggest enemies
of parking ramp longevity is corrosion. Whether a parking ramp is in a warm
coastal area subject to sea breezes and salt spray or whether it is in the
frozen north with cars tracking in deicing salts every winter, the basic story
is the same. Chloride-induced corrosion leads to premature deterioration and
early repairs on the reinforced concrete structure. To change this story,
Cortec® recommends adding Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors (MCI®) into routine
maintenance to slow down the corrosion process.
Advantage
of Preventative Maintenance vs. Repair
Preventing a problem is
usually easier and less expensive in the long term than repairing a problem.
When it comes to reinforced concrete parking ramps, corrosion prompts repair
because it swells the size of the rebar, placing pressure on the concrete
overlay and eventually causing it to crack and spall off. The farther this
process goes, the more damage is done and the more material- and
labor-intensive the repair. While adding corrosion protection to a repair is
important to help it last longer, slowing down corrosion as part of routine
maintenance is even better because it can delay and reduce the damage.
MCI®
Surface Applied Corrosion Inhibitors (SACIs)
MCI® SACIs are ideal for
parking lot maintenance because they penetrate and migrate through concrete
pores and can be combined with water repellents or traffic membranes. MCI®
molecules are attracted to reinforcing metal, where they adsorb and form a
hydrophobic layer that inhibits the ability of the metal to interact with
corrosives such as moisture and chlorides. This molecular barrier delays the
time to corrosion initiation and slows down the rate of corrosion that has
already started. MCI® can be applied at any stage of a parking ramp’s life
cycle—before, during, and after repairs.
Tips
for Selecting the Right MCI® SACI
Contractors and parking
garage management companies can take a variety of paths when incorporating MCI®
into their preventative maintenance plan.
Industry
Best Practices
Those who want to aim for a
20-year MCI® reapplication rate will typically want to choose MCI®-2020 with a
traffic membrane applied on top. Traffic membranes often have a 20-year
warranty; however, when the membrane inevitably fails, it can allow water and
chlorides to seep underneath and attack the concrete anyway. Applying MCI®-2020
to the surface first will enhance protection by introducing the highest
concentration of Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors of any SACI on the market.
For someone who is open to
a corrosion preventative maintenance period of seven to 10 years, MCI®-2020
followed by MCI®-2018 X is a good choice. This combination takes advantage of
the highest concentration of surface applied Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors
topped by a 100% silane water repellent to keep MCI® within and slow the
ingress of corrosives.
Two-in-One
Maintenance
For someone who wants to
apply a two-in-one product, MCI®-2019 or MCI®-2018 are good options. MCI®-2019
combines MCI® with a 40% silane water repellent, making it ideal for tighter
budgets. MCI®-2018 combines MCI® with a 100% silane water repellent for even
better water repellency. These two SACIs are best applied in two coats, wet on
wet, so there is no need to wait for dry time.
Pre-Treated
Surface Maintenance
If a surface still has
residual silane from a previous water repellent application and it is not in
the scope of the project to remove it, MCI®-2019 can be used. This is because
MCI®-2020 and MCI®-2018 may not penetrate a concrete surface that is partially
covered with water repellents. However, MCI®-2019 can be applied over residual
silane water repellent with better penetration through the substrate.
Start
Your Preventative Maintenance Plan
Whatever a parking ramp’s age, it is not too early to start creating a corrosion preventative maintenance strategy. Through routine application of a water repellent and Migrating Corrosion Inhibitor™, parking ramp owners can push back the need for corrosion related repairs and keep their parking structures in better condition longer to preserve property value. Contact Cortec® to discuss the best corrosion preventative maintenance strategy for your parking lot.