A novel electrochemical technique for enhancing silane penetration depth into mortar

Abstract

Concrete require a variety of additives and methods for improving their structure and performance, including the usage of silane. The conventional method of silane penetration has its disadvantages regarding the depth of penetration. A novel electrochemical technique for enhancing silane penetration depth into mortar was proposed. Mortar with different carbonation depths were prepared to simulate the mortars with different service durations. By a comparative experiment, the effectiveness of this method was evaluated by measurements of contact angle, capillary water absorption and penetration depth of silane into mortar. The results show that when compared to dipping method, this method enhances silane penetration depth into mortar effectively, especially for aging mortar (mortar with deeper carbonation depth). The produced silane layer exhibits a better hydrophobicity, of which surface contact angle is larger, and capillary water absorption coefficient is lower than those for the dipping method.