NEWS ALERT: Plan to Learn, Network, and Grow at the ICRI Spring Convention 2022!

Calling all MCI® professionals! Spring is on its way to the Northern Hemisphere, which also means it is time to mark our calendars for the 2022 ICRI Spring Convention in Baltimore, Maryland. This seasonal conference hosted by the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) offers several great ways to learn and grow in the field of concrete durability and repair.

1. Learn More about MCI® and Concrete Repair
First of all, the ICRI Spring Convention is a great opportunity to add to your industry knowledge. This year’s topic, “Weather—Its Impact on Concrete and Construction,” goes hand in hand with Cortec® MCI® Technology. MCI® is used to delay and reduce corrosion on concrete structures in harsh environments, such as winter climates where freeze-thaw cycles and deicing salts wreak havoc. Jon Connealy, Kevin Quan, and Lisa Marston from our MCI® sales and technical team will be available to answer your project and technical questions on these topics and share about recent updates to our MCI® High Performance Repair System (HPRS®). ICRI technical sessions offer further means to boost your knowledge of the concrete repair industry in general.

2. Network with Construction Industry Professionals
The ICRI Spring Convention is also a good way to meet other industry professionals such as engineers and contractors who may be looking for new ideas on concrete repair and durability. These conventions gather a wealth of experts and end users into one place with the potential to build valuable long-lasting professional connections.

3. Grow in Your Influence and Expertise
Finally, the ICRI Spring Convention presents opportunities to become involved further by volunteering for committees that can shape the future of concrete repair and industry best practices.

Mark your calendars today and stay tuned to the ICRI website for further details on registration!

2022 ICRI Spring Convention
“Weather—Its Impact on Concrete and Construction”
April 4th-6th, 2022
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront
700 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore, Maryland
United States
Details: International Concrete Repair Institute, Inc. (icri.org)

Keywords: ICRI, concrete repair, ICRISpring22, ICRI Spring Convention, Cortec, MCI, From Grey to Green, construction industry, corrosion, concrete durability

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PRESS RELEASE: Prevent Corrosion—Save Money in Wastewater Treatment Plants!

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Tank or reservoir for biological purification and cleaning of dirty sewage water by active sludge. Modern technologies in wastewater treatment plant, toned

Wastewater treatment environments are one of the most corrosive industrial settings around. Constant exposure to moisture, harsh chemicals, and corrosive gases such as H2S pose an ongoing threat to facility components, equipment, and structures. With today’s increasing reliance on technology, electronics protection is especially critical. Recent experience has shown that the strategic use of simple Cortec® VpCI® Technologies can have a huge direct cost savings with many peripheral benefits.

Protect Wastewater Treatment Electronics

While corrosion of wastewater plant electronics is one of the most obvious problems, it is also one of the easiest to prevent. An excellent example comes from a wastewater treatment operation in the upper Midwest (U.S.) that was experiencing one to two HMI (human machine interface) failures every six months. The HMIs were used to control pump stations throughout the city and cost $15,000-$40,000 to replace, plus the indirect costs of downtime and repair.

Cortec’s representative easily fixed the problem with VpCI® Technology and Corrosorber®. VpCI®-111 Emitters placed inside the control boxes conditioned the enclosed atmosphere with Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors while Corrosorber® cups absorbed excess hydrogen sulfide gas. ElectriCorr™ VpCI®-239 provided another layer of corrosion protection. The plan included regular inspection and yearly reapplication, as needed.

In just one year, the city wastewater department saved an estimated tens of thousands of dollars at a tiny fraction of HMI replacement cost by avoiding any HMI failures. A similar solution had been previously used at another wastewater treatment operation for at least ten years. The result was a significant decrease in electronic and electrical failures in deep pumping stations, despite the corrosive atmosphere. 

Protect Wastewater Treatment Structures

The corrosive environment also takes a toll on treatment plant structural elements such as railings, walkways, and tanks. While prevention is ideal, existing structures may already have rusty surfaces that need to be addressed before further anticorrosion coatings are applied. A much easier solution than sandblasting is to passivate the rust with CorrVerter® Rust Primer. CorrVerter® uses chelating agents and a high solids waterborne latex to convert the rust into a hydrophobic passive later and protect it against further rusting. This lays a good foundation for applying heavy duty anticorrosion primer/topcoat combinations such as VpCI®-395 or VpCI®-396 with VpCI®-384.

Reinforced concrete structures can also be protected from corrosion with MCI®, which delays time to rebar corrosion and reduces corrosion rates once started. The best way to extend concrete service life is by applying MCI® admixtures to the concrete structures when first poured. However, since many wastewater treatment plants already exist, it is more likely that concrete tanks, walkways, and various concrete structural elements will be candidates for MCI® surface applied corrosion inhibitor (SACI) application. Enhancing concrete longevity in this way will have a huge benefit simply by reducing the need for concrete repairs and the extensive downtime required for work to be done.

A Little Goes a Long Way

Corrosion issues will always be present in wastewater treatment plants. The good news is that basic precautions to prevent or reduce wastewater treatment plant corrosion can go a long way toward longer service life and fewer costly repairs and replacements. Contact Cortec® to discuss specific VpCI® solutions for your facility: https://www.cortecvci.com/contact-us/

Cortec® also supplies biological solutions to promote efficiency and restore balance in wastewater treatment processes through its subsidiary Bionetix® International. Learn more at:

https://www.bionetix-international.com/waste-treatment/.

Keywords: prevent corrosion, wastewater treatment plant corrosion, electronic failures, concrete repairs, anticorrosion coatings, corrosion issues in wastewater treatment plants, surface applied corrosion inhibitors, SACI, Cortec, VpCI

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Cortec® Corporation is the global leader in innovative, environmentally responsible VpCI® and MCI® corrosion control technologies for Packaging, Metalworking, Construction, Electronics, Water Treatment, Oil & Gas, and other industries.  Our relentless dedication to sustainability, quality, service, and support is unmatched in the industry. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Cortec® manufactures over 400 products distributed worldwide.  ISO 9001, ISO 14001:2004, & ISO 17025 Certified. Cortec Website: http://www.cortecvci.com Phone: 1-800-426-7832   FAX: (651) 429-1122

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PRESS RELEASE: MCI®-2044: An Exciting Addition to Cortec’s ‘Mix’ of MCI® Concrete Repair Solutions

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Cortec® MCI® is in the business of helping concrete structures last longer. In order to properly extend service life, a good repair strategy must account for the workings of corrosion, a natural process that is too often the culprit of concrete deterioration. Contractors and engineers must not only consider the possibility of recurring corrosion, but also the danger of corrosion spreading to adjacent concrete through the insidious ring anode effect. Cortec’s MCI® HPRS® (High Performance Repair System) addresses these very problems and has recently expanded to include MCI®-2044 Self-Consolidating Concrete Mix for greater repair flexibility.

MCI® for Longer-Lasting Concrete Repairs
The power of MCI®-2044 is its Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, which work their way through concrete to form a protective molecular layer on embedded rebar. The MCI® molecules delay corrosion and reduce corrosion rates once started, helping the concrete patch last longer. Using MCI®-2044 in a concrete repair also helps protect against the ring anode effect. This halo effect takes place when the high pH of new concrete creates a difference in corrosion potential between patch materials and old concrete, inadvertently causing corrosion to spread to and accelerate in adjacent areas. MCI®-2044 helps even out the corrosion potential to reduce the risk of ring anode problems and make the repair more durable.

Enhanced Flexibility for Repair Contractors
In addition to making repairs more durable, MCI®-2044 offers contractors greater flexibility and versatility when implementing the MCI® HPRS®. In the past, Cortec® was only able to offer MCI® enhanced repair mortars for vertical and overhead use. With MCI®-2044, contractors now have an MCI® enhanced concrete mix for use in form and pour applications. MCI®-2044 is self-leveling and self-consolidating with a slump/flow of 24-30 inches (61-76 cm). As a single component mix containing factory blended coarse aggregate, it is convenient to use and eliminates the need for extending material in the field. As a further side benefit, there are no chlorides, magnesium phosphates, or calcium nitrites included in the mix.

Where to Use MCI®-2044
MCI®-2044 can be used in any form and pour repair applications from 1-8 inches (25-200 mm) deep, including horizontal, vertical, and overhead applications. It is ideal for full-depth and large volume repairs in practically any concrete structures

  • Parking garages
  • Bridges
  • Industrial, residential, and commercial buildings

It’s Time to Add MCI®-2044 to the ‘Mix’ of HPRS® Solutions
Concrete repairs are constantly needed around the world, especially in areas of harsh marine or winter environments. Given the counterproductive danger of the ring anode effect to simply shift corrosion elsewhere, it is important to build corrosion protection directly into the repair. With MCI®-2044, contractors and engineers now have a self-consolidating concrete mix to enhance the durability of their form and pour applications. Contact Cortec® today to start implementing the power and convenience of MCI®-2044 into your MCI® HPRS® repair: https://www.cortecmci.com/contact-us/

To learn more about MCI®-2044, please visit: https://www.cortecvci.com/wp-content/uploads/MCI-2044.pdf

Keywords: Cortec, MCI, From Grey to Green, concrete repair, self consolidating concrete mix, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, ring anode effect, MCI HPRS, High Performance Repair System, extend service life

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NEWS ALERT: Face to Face at World of Concrete 2022

The World of Concrete (WOC) was a great opportunity for many of us to not only escape the snow and cold of our home environments, but also to see the whole MCI® team and some of our distributors and reps face to face once again! The excitement of being back in person January 18th– 21st in Las Vegas was visible among the audience, which, although smaller than pre-COVID shows, was noticeably larger than the June 2021 WOC when construction season was in full swing.

As usual, the MCI® Lunch & Learn was packed with discussion about MCI® business strategies, challenges, market changes, and industry reception, as well as product updates and relevant case histories. Business aside, our reps and distributors had time to relax and attend “WOW – The Vegas Spectacular,” to be entertained by acrobats in a theatrical setting.

WOC also brought opportunities to talk with current and potential customers—some of whom seemed genuinely interested in learning about MCI® Technology for the first time. Another potential benefit of the conference was connecting with material suppliers who may be helpful resources for future R&D efforts.

Although we missed the presence of our international distributors this year, it was great to see those of you who were able to attend from Alpine Summit Enterprises , JN Lucas & Associates, M2, and SMART. We were happy to be together once again, and we look forward to seeing even more of you next year at WOC 2023!

Keywords: World of Concrete, WOC2022, Cortec, MCI, Cortec MCI, From Grey to Green, construction industry, concrete repair, construction season, Cortec distributors

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CASE HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: Case History #102: Concrete Cooling Tower Repair

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A major power supplier needed high quality repair materials to fix cooling towers that had been damaged by corrosion and contaminated by chlorides and carbonation. Prior to placing repair mortars, MCI®-2020 was sprayed into the area where concrete had spalled. The cavity was then filled in using MCI®-2038 and MCI®-2039. Surrounding areas were treated with MCI®-2020 to fight the ring-anode effect that can accelerate corrosion in concrete adjacent to repairs. In this way, the immediate repair was completed using a proven technology that would have ongoing effects to mitigate future corrosion and concrete damage.

Read the full case history here.

For a PDF version please click here.

CASE HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: Case History #16: Extending Service Life of Charleswood Bridge

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Between October 1994 and October 1995, a unique bridge was under construction in North America. Of special note was the fact that the bridge was privately built and leased to the City of Winnipeg for approximately 20 years. Another special feature was the use of MCI®-2000 corrosion inhibiting admixture in the bridge decking, added to extend the service life of this private investment. MCI®-2020 was applied to sign-support columns aboveground. It was also slated for use in a number of Winnipeg bridges the following year, as provincial and civic engineers were recommending the use of MCI® Technology in all bridge projects at this time.

Read the full case history here.

Keywords: Cortec, MCI, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, From Grey to Green, corrosion inhibiting admixture, MCI admixtures, concrete admixtures, concrete durability, extend service life, bridge construction

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PRESS RELEASE: Reduce Your Concrete Carbon Footprint with Cortec® MCI® Technology!

concrete greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable construction, carbon footprint, CO2 emissions, concrete admixtures, Cortec, MCI, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, LEED certification, From Grey to Green

 

Concrete is the world’s most widely used construction material—and also one of its greatest contributors to greenhouse gas. The root cause is cement production, which alone accounts for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions. At this rate, successful strategies to lower concrete carbon output are especially significant. MCI® Technology is one of those simple but powerful strategies that helps the construction industry take a pivotal step toward a smaller carbon footprint.

Using MCI® Technology to Extend Concrete Service Life

How can MCI® Technology help lower carbon emissions? The answer lies in its ability to enhance concrete durability. Ashraf Hasania, Cortec’s MCI® Technical Sales and Product Manager, who holds degrees in civil and environmental engineering, explains the common-sense logic: “Increasing the service life of concrete structures using durable materials can reduce the need for demolishing old structures and building new ones. It can also lead to less need for major repairs. This lowers the carbon footprint of concrete structures and promotes sustainable practices.”

The way MCI® helps concrete structures last longer is by attacking one of the biggest enemies to concrete durability: corrosion of metal reinforcement. As rebar rusts due to carbonation, chloride exposure, and other environmental conditions, it expands and puts pressure on the concrete cover. This leads to cracking, spalling, and a vicious cycle of further exposure to corrosives and additional damage. Based on salts of amine carboxylates, MCI® Technology interrupts this process by migrating through the concrete pores to form a protective molecular layer on the rebar surface to delay and reduce corrosion. Service life models and lab and field studies have shown that MCI® can increase service life by three to four times. This translates into a comparable reduction in concrete’s carbon footprint.

When Can MCI® Be Used?

MCI® can be used at any stage in a structure’s lifecycle, but the best course to pursue is early treatment. “Sustainability in construction starts early in the process,” Hasania advises, “specifically in [the] design phase with careful selection of construction materials and concrete mixes.” Ideally, this includes the choice of MCI® concrete admixtures, which can be added to new concrete at the ready-mix plant or construction site. In contrast to calcium nitrite admixtures, MCI® admixtures have a low dose independent of chloride loading and do not negatively affect concrete mix properties. Existing structures can be treated with MCI® in the form of surface applied corrosion inhibitors (with or without water repellent) and repair mortars. Once applied, the MCI® molecules migrate through concrete pores to protect embedded rebar in sound concrete, or to even out corrosion potential and interrupt the problematic ring-anode/halo effect between new patch repairs and old concrete.

Other Sustainability Features

In addition to the main goal of helping concrete structures last longer, MCI® Technology offers other attractive features. For example, MCI®-2005 is a USDA Certified Biobased Product that contains 67% USDA certified biobased content. This use of renewable resources can help the project earn credits toward LEED certification while adding a more sustainable image to the structure and builder. Another attractive feature is the low toxicity of MCI®
products, many of which are certified to meet NSF Standard 61 for use in potable water structures.

Take a Step Toward Sustainable Construction

Considering the costs of construction and rebuilding alone, the benefits of extending concrete service life are clear. Add to it the ripple effect of decreasing the amount of new cement needed to repair and replace old structures, and the advantages of MCI® Technology go even further—helping the construction industry take major steps toward a smaller carbon footprint and a more sustainable future. Learn more about sustainability with Cortec® MCI® today: https://www.cortecmci.com/sustainability/

Keywords: concrete greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable construction, carbon footprint, CO2 emissions, concrete admixtures, Cortec, MCI, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, LEED certification, From Grey to Green

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MCI®-309: A Corrosion Inhibitor for PT Bridges and Beyond!

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The history of MCI®-309 for the last 20 years has been the history of convenient and versatile corrosion protection around the globe. Since 2001, MCI®-309 corrosion inhibitor has been applied in at least 23 of the United States (plus D.C.), two provinces, and 10 countries. It has been used from Murmansk to Dubai and from Montreal to Oahu. While its most common purpose is as a corrosion inhibitor in post-tension (PT) bridges awaiting grouting, MCI®-309 has also been used to protect floating bridges and flex-float internal cavities. Just a few key projects are mentioned below.

 

 

Project Name Location Year
Round Butte Reservoir Madras, Oregon (USA) 2009-Present
St. Croix River Crossing Oak Park Heights, MN/Houlton, WI (USA) 2014-2017
Samuel De Champlain Bridge/ Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) Light Rail System Montreal, Quebec (Canada) 2016-2019
Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Project Washington, DC (USA) 2020
Dubai Metro 2020 Route Dubai (UAE) 2019


Keywords: corrosion inhibitor, PT bridges, post tension cable corrosion, grouting delays, Cortec, MCI, Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, Samuel De Champlain Bridge, St. Croix River Crossing

MCI®-309 is a welcome answer for construction crews that face PT grouting delays due to cold weather or other interruptions after PT placement. In the U.S., state and federal requirements typically call for corrosion inhibitor application if the waiting period is two weeks or longer. MCI®-309 is a convenient choice because it is easy to apply by fogging through the PT ducts and then capping the ends. Little or no surface prep is required, and the corrosion inhibitor does not need to be flushed out prior to grouting because it does not affect bond strength. These factors reduce labor and minimize further exposure to corrosive elements, all while mitigating PT cable corrosion. Contact us for more info on how and where MCI®-309 has been
used: https://www.cortecmci.com/contact-us/

For a PDF version please click here.

Cortec® Releases Quick Start Guide on Direct to Metal Coatings for Construction Applications

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Cortec® MCI® is pleased to release a new coatings guide designed specifically for the building maintenance and construction industries. This two-page handout gives a quick intro to Cortec® Micro-Corrosion Inhibiting Coatings™ Technology before getting down to basics on how and where to apply which coatings. The guide is here to help engineers, contractors, and maintenance crews easily protect structural steel and metal equipment around their facility or construction site.

Why Coat Metal?
Construction sites and facilities have countless metal structures or equipment components that need protection—from structural steel to steel plates, from metal platforms to stairs and banisters, from metal HVAC components to decorative architecture. Depending on the surrounding environment (e.g., outdoors vs. indoors), some will be at higher risk of corrosion and require heavy duty protection. Others may need a simple layer of paint to improve appearance and delay gradual oxidation. This quick guide helps simplify coatings selection so workers can get down to the business of protecting their assets with a good coating combo for each specific application.

How Should Metal Coatings Be Applied?
The new guide briefly outlines a critical part of coatings success—how to properly apply a system. For best results, this includes good surface prep (e.g., rust removal), optional rinsing, and the final application of a primer plus one or more topcoats. The actual number of coatings chosen can depend on the durability and aesthetics required on a case-by-case basis. One of the nice things about Cortec® Coatings is that many can be applied directly to metal, and some can function as metal primers, topcoats, or even intermediate coats for more flexibility. The brochure includes a full coating system application example to show how this might be done.

What Features Does Each Coating Have?
Another important part of the new construction coatings guide is the listing of specific features for each primer and topcoat. These characteristics can
mean the difference between which coating will be used inside versus outside, in a strong chemical processing environment versus a dry warehouse, and so on. Some workers will place the most importance on low VOC or water-based coatings. The one- or twopart nature of the system can also factor into the equation, as some users want to go quick and easy with 1K coatings, while others desire to benefit from the cross-linking advantages of a 2K coating.

Where Should Each Coating Be Used?
The best part of the coatings guide is that it brings all the coatings together with a comprehensive chart of recommended system combinations for different applications. This is a great reference when workers know what kind of equipment or structural steel they need to coat but feel at a loss navigating through all the different coatings characteristics to choose the right coating on their own. For those who want a simple answer to the question, “Which coating should I use right here?” this selection guide is a great place to turn immediately. It offers multiple primer/topcoat combinations that go well together and specific examples of where they can be used:

  • Clean structural steel
  • Rusted structural steel
  • Chemical exposure environment
  • Handrails, banisters, steel plates, and mechanical equipment
  • Pipes

The Brainwork Has Been Done – Now Enjoy!
Cortec® seeks to develop products and resources that will improve the ease and efficiency of everyday corrosion protection tasks. The new coatings
guide is a great example and will be a tremendous boost for construction and maintenance workers who need to make a quick decision on protecting metal components without having to become coatings experts themselves. Cortec® has done the work to make coatings selection easy and positive. Take advantage of those efforts today by browsing “Cortec’s Coatings Guide for Construction Applications” here: https://www.cortecmci.com/mci-coatings-guide-for-construction-applications/

Keywords: Cortec Coatings, direct to metal coatings, corrosion inhibitor coatings, corrosion protection, how to apply a coating, metal primers, low VOC coatings, water-based coatings, construction industry coatings, building maintenance

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