PRESS RELEASE: MCI® Grenades – Your Concrete Corrosion Inhibitor Backup Plan for Worst-Case Ready-Mix Scenarios

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Picture this scene. You are a project superintendent in the middle of a stressful concrete pour. The engineer has specified Cortec® MCI® as the corrosion inhibiting admixture. So far, all has gone well with no early set problems. In fact, the mix has never been easier to work with! Then suddenly, the admixture dosing equipment starts to clog. Bad goes to worse when someone sends word that there are no more drums of MCI® admixture onsite to finish the batch even if the dosing equipment were fixed. Fortunately, this nightmare does not have to come true thanks to a simple backup plan of MCI® Grenades.

A Powerful Dose of Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors
MCI® Grenades are pre-packaged water-soluble pouches of MCI®-2006 NS that can easily replace MCI®
2005/MCI
®-2005 NS liquid admixtures if needed. MCI® Grenades are extremely convenient, pre-dosed to treat one cubic yard of concrete per bag (one cubic meter per Metric MCI® Grenade). As Jon Connealy, Regional Sales Manager for MCI® Central and one of ICRI’s 2020 “40 under 40,” explained, “Simply toss one grenade into your concrete truck per yard of concrete enclosed and your concrete will have all of the migrating corrosion inhibitors needed.” This serves as an affordable backup plan for ready-mix providers who must always be on guard for unexpected liquid admixture dosing challenges that could devastate an already stressful situation.

MCI® Admixture ‘Insurance Plan’ in Action
Connealy shared a case in point of how one ready-mix provider wisely prepared for a worst-case scenario after falling short for another. In the summer of 2021, the ready-mix provider was in the middle of a batching job when realization hit that there was not enough MCI®-2005 NS to complete it. Additional MCI®-2005 NS would not arrive for a week. Earlier in the year, the ready-mixer’s dispensing unit pump had become blocked with foreign materials and delayed the project for both the ready-mixer and the contractor. As a result, the ready-mix provider had stocked MCI®-2006 NS (approved by the engineer) as a backup supply in case the problem happened again. When the summer batching shortage hit, the crew was able to carry on with MCI®-2006 NS while waiting for the rest of the MCI®-2005 NS to arrive. As Connealy noted, “This ‘insurance plan’ saved them and the
contractor serious delays for the job.”

Convenient Options for Best-Case Scenarios
Worst-case scenarios aside, MCI® Grenades are a convenient option for contractors even when nothing is going wrong. MCI® Grenades are easy to work with for small jobs. They can be added onsite and safely handled despite their high pH since they are packaged in watersoluble film that does not dissolve until mixed with water. Furthermore, MCI® Grenades make MCI® admixtures accessible to all contractors—even if not ready-mix suppliers—who can simply calculate the right number of MCI® Grenades to toss into the concrete batch at the jobsite to get corrosion protection and extend service life.

Be Prepared with an MCI® Grenade™ ‘Insurance Policy’
While unexpected MCI® supply and dosing equipment problems can happen, they do not have to be added to the already stressful task of achieving a good concrete pour. By simply keeping a backup supply of MCI® Grenades on hand for unpredictable problems, concrete suppliers and contractors can make sure they do not end up in a ready-mix nightmare. Contact us to order your MCI® Grenades today: https://www.cortecmci.com/contact-us/

Keywords: ready mix suppliers, concrete admixtures, concrete corrosion inhibitors, Cortec, MCI, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, extend service life, ready mix problems, concrete contractors, MCI Grenade, supply shortage

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PRESS RELEASE: World’s First Biobased Corrosion Inhibiting Admixture for Concrete Receives CE Certificate!

MCI 2005 CE Certficate PR

Cortec® Corporation is proud to announce that its MCI®-2005 is the first biobased, organic, corrosion inhibiting concrete admixture, that received CE Certificate. CE marking is a certification that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). The CE marking is also found on products sold outside EEA that are manufactured in, or designed to be sold in the EEA. This makes the CE marking recognizable worldwide even to people who are not familiar with the European Economic Area. CE certificate was issued by IGH Institute, a Croatian company active in civil engineering professional services and scientific research. This leading design, consulting and research institution is dedicated to research and development in civil engineering. Their laboratories are accredited for 600 test methods. IGH conducted extensive testing for MCI® 2005 before issuing the certificate. Cortec® has gone to great lengths to make the CE certification of MCI® products a reality. MCI® 2005 is available in Europe from Cortec’s manufacturing facility in Split, Croatia. Excellent location in the city’s harbor enables the product to be manufactured and shipped in record time throughout Europe and further. 

MCI®-2005 is an organic, biobased corrosion inhibitor for protection of metallic reinforcement in concrete structures. It contains a blend of amine salts of carboxylic acids. Unlike calcium nitrite admixtures, which have a set accelerating effect that can send workers scrambling or cause early setup problems, MCI®- 2005 delays set time, making the concrete easier to work with and reducing the heat of hydration. Other advantages are that MCI®-2005 contains 67% USDA certified biobased content and is certified to meet ANSI/NSF Standard 61 for use in large potable water structures. Considering that durability of concrete structures is one of the biggest issues in construction industry today, this is an excellent achievement to help for engineers in maintaining sustainability. Durability can be greatly extended with careful technical approach.

Application of MCI® technology is one of the most efficient methods on the market for extending durability of structures by preventing corrosion of metallic reinforcement in concrete. Corrosion is deterioration of materials over time. It causes serious damage to metal products in concrete structures which can result in huge safety hazard. This is why the development and selection of corrosion inhibiting admixtures requires very serious approach. Structures protected with MCI® will have a stronger resistance to corrosion and therefore significantly longer durability.

MCI ®2005 was used The Kinnet tunnel was designed to collect flood water from the entire Arava region and the city of Eilat, Israel. It was constructed in a highly aggressive environment with sulphate-rich ground and extremely hot weather conditions.The project needed to meet requirements for an exposure level set to XA-3 (harsh soil aggressiveness) according to Table One of EN-206-1 (Exposure Level 11 according to the equivalent Israeli standard IS-118). A ‘Performance-Related Design Method’ was chosen as the best solution to meet the requirements set by the high exposure level and project conditions. A corrosion inhibiting admixture, MCI-2005, was specified as the performance design principal, used with C35/45 concrete comprising CEM-III/B sulphate-resistant cement (according to Table-One of EN-197-1 and its Israeli equivalent Table-One of IS-1). This combination was designed to inhibit corrosion at the level of the rebar; reduce autogenous, plastic, and thermal cracking; and withstand sulphate attack throughout the tunnel’s service life.

MCI® 2005 is produced in CorteCros®, a member of the Cortec® Corporation group. CorteCros has recently expanded its production facility and
storage capacity in Split. This is now Europe’s main production and distribution point for Cortec’s corrosion protection chemistries. In addition to
manufacturing and testing, CorteCros® provides integrated solutions and full technical support for Cortec’s products and services. Newly equipped
ASTM and ISO certified laboratory is also located in the logistics center in Split. All products are registered according to the REACH standard.

You can learn more about MCI®-2005 admixture here: https://www.cortecmci.com/concreteadmixtures/

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PRESS RELEASE: Cortec® Awarded Patent for Innovative Fire Sprinkler Corrosion Mitigation Technology!

Cortec® is pleased to announce its newest US patent for corrosion mitigation inside dry sprinkler systems!
While sprinklers are designed to fight fire, they themselves are at elevated risk for corrosion during their service life. Sprinkler corrosion problems are serious enough that National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards for sprinklers call for corrosion risk evaluation at installation and periodic corrosion monitoring thereafter.* Cortec
® has developed its patented sprinkler protection process as a simple, cost-effective solution to this problem.

A Practical Solution for Hard-to-Reach Void Spaces
Cortec’s patent covers a comprehensive system of protection that relies on Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors (VpCI® or VCI). This technology does not require the direct application of the corrosion inhibitors to every metal surface that needs protection. Rather, the vapor pressure of the corrosion inhibitors, delivered in powder or fluid form, will allow them to vaporize and disperse throughout the piping voids to access even difficult to reach spaces. Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors are attracted to metal surfaces, where they adsorb in a protective layer that interferes with the normal corrosion reaction fostered by the presence of oxygen and an electrolyte (e.g., residual water). These Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors are able to work in both the liquid phase and the vapor phase, allowing them to protect both wet and dry surfaces within the pipe.

Customizable Application Options
At least two methods of Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor application exist. One option is to use VpCI® fogging fluid to deliver the corrosion inhibitors immediately through the dry pipes. The other employs more gradual vapor dispersion by placing dry Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitors in a housing connected to a pressurized air system that constantly circulates the protective vapors through the piping. This comprehensive system also includes efficacy monitoring methods such as corrosion coupons or sensors.

Benefits of Cortec® Patented Fire Sprinkler Protection
The primary benefit of Cortec’s fire sprinkler protection system is the mitigation of corrosion inside dry sprinkler pipes, helping the sprinklers last longer with less likelihood of failure. This significantly reduces the risk of leakage and clogging due to corrosion, in turn reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming repairs or pipe replacements. At the same time, the system is easy to install, requires little to no maintenance, and is economical and effective. These benefits are a huge advantage over traditional nitrogen purge, which can be expensive and difficult to maintain, and for which failure is not uncommon.

Another Example of Corrosion Technology Leadership
Cortec® strives to be a leader in developing practical solutions for corrosion needs in all industries. This fire sprinkler corrosion mitigation system is an excellent example of how Cortec® has provided a cost-effective, comprehensive, groundbreaking solution that departs from the status quo. It is an important technology to consider as an effective alternative to traditional protection processes that can easily fail or be difficult to maintain. Contact Cortec® to learn more about this exciting cost-effective sprinkler maintenance technology: https://www.cortecvci.com/contact-us/

Keywords: fire sprinkler corrosion, US patents, Cortec, corrosion mitigation, fire sprinklers, fire sprinkler protection, NFPA, National Fire Protection Agency, fire sprinkler maintenance, nitrogen purge alternatives

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