Bridge scheduled

Citation

(1998), "Bridge scheduled", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 45 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.1998.12845eab.001

Bridge scheduled

Bridge scheduled

Keywords Bridge, Corrosion, Marine corrosion, Steel

The pylons of the world's longest suspension bridge rise 833ft over the sea and are constructed of steel-reinforced concrete. Scheduled to open in 1998, the four-and-a-quarter mile-long span joins the Danish islands of Funen and Seeland and will allow vehicles to cross the strait known as the Great Belt of Denmark in 15 minutes.

Although sea bridge pylons are typically built of steel, the engineers of this project selected concrete to help avoid the ongoing expense of repeated rust removal and repainting. Because the steel reinforcements themselves are threatened by corrosion if moisture and chloride ions are allowed to penetrate the concrete, they applied a 100 per cent silane water repellent to help protect against the infiltration of water and waterborne contaminants.

The repellent, DYNASYLAN® BH-N from Huls America, was selected to keep chloride ions from reaching the rebar, thereby preventing corrosion and extending the service life of the concrete. The product contains no solvent or water carrier, penetrates deeper than traditional water- or solvent-borne silane or siloxane water repellents, and bonds chemically with silica to form a permanent attachment of the water-repellent molecule.

Further details are available from McGettigan, Huls America, Inc., 220 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey 08873, USA. Tel: 800 828 0919.