Stoichiometric cordierite (2MgO-2Al2O3-5SiO2) with additions of titania have been investigated for use as coatings on low thermal expansion refractory concretes. These concretes have coefficients of thermal expansion on the order of 2 ppm/°C. Titania additions of up to 8 mole percent were investigated and the effect of titania in the crystallization of cordierite was examined. Cordierite coatings were air plasma sprayed and both glass and crystalline coatings were produced. The crystalline structure of the coating was found to be dependent upon the preheat temperature of the substrate. Preheats greater than 700 °C produced a mixture of a quartz solid solution and indialite whereas glass coatings were produced at preheats less than 700 °C. Coefficients of thermal expansion for the cordierite materials were dependent upon titania addition and generally increased with addition of titania. In the glass state, the thermal expansion was modestly increased (4.6 to 4.9 ppm/°C) with titania additions, but the quartz and indialite forms of the cordierite increased from 1.2 to 4.7 ppm/°C as the titania addition increased from 0 to 8 mole percent.

Thermal-sprayed zinc anodes are used in impressed current cathodic protection systems for some of Oregon's coastal reinforced concrete bridges. Electrochemical aging of zinc anodes results in physical and chemical changes at the zinc-concrete interface. Concrete surfaces heated prior to thermal-spraying had initial adhesion strengths 80% higher than unheated surfaces. For electrochemical aging greater than 200 kC/m 2 (5.2 A-h/ft 2 ), there was no difference in adhesion strengths for zinc on preheated and unheated concrete. Adhesion strengths decreased monotonically after about 400 to 600 kC/m 2 (10.4 to 15.6 A-h/ft 2 ) as a result of the reaction zones at the zinc-concrete interface. A zone adjacent to the metallic zinc (and originally part of the zinc coating) was primarily zincite (ZnO), with minor constituents of wulfingite (Zn(OH) 2 ), simonkolleite (Zn 5 (OH) 8 Cl 2 H 2 0), and hydrated zinc hydroxide sulfates (Zn 4 S0 4 (OH) 5 xH 2 0). This zone is the locus for cohesive fracture when the zinc coating separates from the concrete during adhesion tests. Zinc ions substitute for calcium in the cement paste adjacent to the coating as the result of secondary mineralization. The initial estimate of the coating service life based on adhesion strength measurements in accelerated impressed current cathodic protection tests is about 27 years.

Steel reinforcement corrosion is one of the most serious causes of the premature deterioration of North American bridges and parking garages. Carbon steel rebars are very vulnerable to corrosion in salt contaminated concrete from deicing or coastal environment since the chloride ions induce severe corrosion as they reach the reinforcing steel rebars and depassivate the carbon steel. This paper evaluates the potential of using stainless steel coatings as a means to protect steel rebars from corrosion, especially in a salt contaminated concrete environment. The 316 L stainless steel coated coupons and rebars were prepared using Arc-sprayed and HP/HVOF processes. The corrosion performance of coatings were evaluated using linear polarization, a.c. impedance and salt spray techniques. Metallographic examination was also performed to characterize the coating microstructure.