The Influence of Near Surface Moisture and Specimen Thickness on Concrete Protection Treatment

Abstract

Moisture content at the time of applying the protective material to concrete has the major influence on the success 3 or failure of the treatment process. The code of practice, BD 43/03 and BS EN 1504-2, suggests a maximum 4 moisture content of approximately 5.0% at the time of applying the treatment. However, this moisture content is 5 the bulk moisture content which is not representative for the ‘near surface’ moisture content. A new idiom is 6 presented in this study that represents the theoretical moisture content at the time of application. “Apparent 7 moisture content” is the water present near the surface of concrete and has the major effect on the application of 8 protective materials. In the second part of this research, the efficacy of two hydrophobic materials were tested in 9 terms of water absorption protection. Also, results from the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for the 10 formation and distribution of the applied protective materials has been presented in this research.