Investigations on the protection effect of filling materials for post-tensioning systems under construction conditions

About the long-term protection behaviour of corrosion protection materials (filling materials) for prestressed systems under critical environmental conditions is only little known. The corrosion protection effect is usually based on theoretical considerations and is proven by short-term tests. The selection of the different products is mainly made according to economical or workability criteria. In a research project the barrier effect of different commercial corrosion protection materials (waxes as well as oil-based greases) against water, their tendency for undercutting as well as their additional corrosion protection effect were investigated. The exposure tests were carried out with non-stressed as well as stressed prestressing steel specimens which were subjected to critical conditions (condensed water, artificial soil solution, direct soil contact). Parallel to these long-term exposure tests the applicability of different electrochemical techniques and their significance with respect to testing the corrosion protection ability and water absorption was evaluated. Within the project a suitable method for simple testing the performance of corrosion protection materials under real conditions was developed. By means of a small compact cell submicroscopical reactions of the used sensors could be measured. The high sensitivity of this measuring technique enables the detection of degradation processes at thin protection layers.