The effect of 31 years of seawater exposure on concrete with ELKEM MICROSILICA®

Concrete structures are used in many marine applications where there is always an exposure to seawater either directly or indirectly. The effect of seawater on concrete has always been a major problem when the concrete is subjected to wetting by an aqueous solution containing mainly sodium chloride (NaCl) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 ), which imposes chemical reactions that may lead to premature structural deterioration and reduced service life.

In this application, ELKEM MICROSILICA® product is used to reduce the chloride content at typical reinforcement depths, reduce the permeability of the concrete by reducing the capillary pores and the overall porosity of the concrete.