Presented are the results of a study undertaken to evaluate the performance of high molecular weight methacrylate (HMWM) monomers used to (a) treat the cracks and seal the surfaces of two tined bridgedecks, (b) seal the surface of one untined bridge deck, (c) fill the cracks and seal the surface of a pavement to retard an alkali-silica-aggregate reaction, and (d) prime the surface of a bridge deck for a polyester styrene concrete overlay. For the two tined bridge decks, the evaluation was based on data collected during application, skid tests, permeability tests on cores removed from decks, petrographic examination of the cracks in the cores, and inspections of the decks for leaks. The evaluation indicated that no significant problems were associated with the application and that the treatments partially filled the top half inch of the cracks. However, because of traffic- and temperature-induced strains across the cracks, the polymer in many of the treated cracks was cracked after 1 year in service. Even so, the treatments significantly reduced the permeability to chloride ions of the top 2 inches of both the cracked and uncracked sections of the decks. The permeability of cores taken from treated cracked and uncracked areas after 1 year was 59 and 43 percent, respectively, of the permeability of the untreated bases. After 3 years, the permeability was 64 and 42 percent, respectively. Study results indicate that applying HMWM monomers is a practical way to reduce the infiltration of chloride ions into concrete surfaces with cracks that are wider than 0.15 mm because of the low cost and ease with which the treatment can be applied as compared with a pressure injection of epoxy. Results also indicate that HMWM monomers can be applied as a prime coat to improve the bond strength of polyester styrene concrete overlays. (Author/publisher)
Abstract