ABSTRACT
Coatings, normally in the form of proprietary products, are commonly used on mass or reinforced concrete to: • Prevent premature deterioration• Limit or control ingress of gases or aggressive chemicals• Enhance appearance• Modify other surface properties; for example, water repellency, slip resistance, colour or impact and abrasion resistance. Products are available for internal, external, underwater and trafficked surfaces.The following related products are outside the scope of this discussion: • Thick renders, floor toppings and gunite• Waterproofing membranes for car parks/bridges• Preformed sheet membranes for waterproofing• Protective tapes• Curing membranes• Fire protection systems• Coatings associated with electrochemical techniques that halt or prevent reinforcement corrosion (cathodic protection, desalination or realkalisation)• Coatings for steel reinforcement and active corrosion inhibitors. 17.2 Why use coatings?
