The Secret of MCI for Better Parking Ramp Maintenance
30.09.2024
Figure: Cortec
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.
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.
CONTACT
Cortec Europe
Gramaca 5F
10000 Zagreb/Croatia
