Concrete is the most widely used man-made product in the world, and is second only to water as the world's most utilized substance. All over North America there is evidence of concrete in decay. The single most detrimental factor leading to the deterioration of concrete structures is corrosion of the reinforcing steel. Conservative estimates have found the total cost related directly to corrosion of reinforced concrete structures: bridges, roadways, parking garages, and buildings, in the industrial sector in the United States is more than $80 billion USD each year. Estimates for Canada are approximately 10% ($13 billion CDN) of US expenditure, whereas worldwide costs are much greater. The Galvashield embedded anode consists of a zinc core, which is encased within a cementitious shell. The activated mortar contains additives that regulate the corrosion of the sacrificial zinc core. These anodes are incorporated within reinforced concrete to reduce corrosion of the reinforcing steel and extend its service life. This project was nominated for the 2002 Environmental Achievement Award.
Samenvatting