MCI® Technology Applied on Peljesac Bridge Providing Road Link Between Two Parts of the Country!

Ranking among the most demanding bridges in the world—not only in terms of complexity of construction but also in a complex design—2,404-m (7,887.14-ft) long, Peljesac bridge is one of the most important and largest infrastructure project in Europe. Connecting Croatia’s Peljesac peninsula with the mainland to bypass a short stretch of the Bosnia and Herzegovina coastline started three years ago.

The project is worth 550 Million Euros, although most of the funding came from the European Union. ln order to meet the main criteria of quality design, such as stability, durability, economy, and integration into the environment, the inventive design proposed the construction of an extra dosed bridge with an integrated hybrid structure comprising of five central spans, each 285-m long, and six low pylons. Especially careful approach was taken to ensure durability for the extended lifespan of over 130 years.

Cortec’s MCI® 2018 was specified on this project during the design phase as a silane-based impregnation with a migrating inhibitor property to protect against the harmful effects of corrosion, thus extending the service life of the bridge. MCI® 2018 is a 100% silane-based concrete sealer containing migrating corrosion inhibitors that allows deep penetration into concrete and provides water repellence by chemically reacting with the cementitious
substrate. It seals surface pores, preventing the intrusion of chlorides, reduces carbonation, and protects from the ingress of wind-driven rain. Treated concrete surfaces are fully breathable and their natural moisture-vapor transmission is not affected. After repair of surface damage and cleaning of discolorations and other surface defects, the concrete surface of the pylons needed to be protected with a colorless silane coating to improve durability and increase the resistance of the concrete surface to long-term external influences. MCI®-2018 carries CE certification that indicates conformity with health, safety and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA).

Application of MCI®-2018

A combination of AC coatings, cathodic protection of steel reinforcement in piles and pile heads, a concrete cover of 65– 85 mm stainless steel reinforcement and impregnation of all concrete surfaces with MCI®-2018 was chosen as the strategy to help the bridge achieve a 130-year service life. MCI®-2018 was applied on the entire substructure of the bridge. All concrete parts were coated with MCI®-2018 by a spraying technique. The work was performed in accordance with the project requirements and after surface preparation to full functionality. This included:

  •  Access to pylons
  •  Rehabilitation of the concrete surface of the pylons
  •  Cleaning the concrete surface of the pylon (washing the pillars with water)
  •  Impregnation of the concrete surface of the pylon with MCI®-2018.

MCI®-2018 contains time-proven Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors (MCI®). The silane component provides water repellency by chemically reacting with the cementitious substrate under proper application, decreasing the ingress of aggressive materials. The product penetrates deep into concrete, providing corrosion protection to reinforcing steel from existing water and chloride ions, or other contaminants. For the Peljesac bridge, continuous monitoring of the condition of the structure at one central place will be done during the construction phase and the exploitation phase to examine parameters of structural behavior, time, seismic activity, and structural durability. The designer of the bridge specified corrosion protection for all concrete segments in order to achieve a 130-year service life. After completion, the Peljesac Bridge will be ranked among the five largest and most attractive European bridges, constructed at the beginning of 21st century. This important new structure is connecting two separate parts of Croatia and bypassing border crossings at the short coastal strip near Neum in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Cortec’s CEO, Boris Miksic, Croatian-American businessman is proud that his patented technology was used on this historic project to connect two parts of his country. “Our MCI® technology is used in largest construction projects throughout the globe. I dedicated more than forty years of my life in
developing most advanced, environmentally safe corrosion protection solutions. Witnessing its application in my home country on this monumental bridge structure is truly a special feeling. Croatia has gone through some tough times, having to fight its independence in a war 30 years ago. Seeing it
prosper and develop in of the most desirable countries in Europe feels just about right and completion of Peljesac bridge is huge step forward for all of us.”

You can learn more about Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors (MCI®) here: https://www.cortecmci.com/

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NEWS ALERT: Join Us as We Head Back to World of Concrete!

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After a break in the action at World of Concrete (WOC) due to pandemic interruptions, Cortec® MCI® will be back on the scene at Booth #C4014 in January! WOC 2022, January 18th-20th in Las Vegas, will be a great time to reconnect with industry professionals and get to know some of the new MCI® team members you may not have met yet. We invite you to schedule a one-on-one with your regional rep or just stop by to say “hi” and chat about life! You may also want to visit the booth to

  • View MCI® samples
  • Browse new MCI® literature
  • Learn about our new MCI® products

Most of all, you will not want to miss our MCI® Lunchand-Learn (by reservation only), where we will bring you up to date on important highlights from the world of MCI® over the last two years. We also plan to schedule a fun social activity for our MCI® Friends and Family during the week, so be sure to let us know if you will be attending! Watch for an email invite coming your way or contact your MCI® rep now to sign up.

Of course, don’t forget to register for World of Concrete 2022, too! (Note: register with ICRI by December 13th for a special discount: https://www.icri.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1499421&group=)

Keywords: World of Concrete, WOC, concrete, Cortec MCI, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, construction industry, concrete durability,
admixtures, SACI, concrete repair

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Biobased Organic Admixture for Protection of Metallic Reinforcement in Concrete Structures

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MCI®-2005 Passes ASTM G180 Testing for Corrosion Inhibiting Admixtures!

November 18, 2021

Cortec® Corporation is proud to announce that its MCI®-2005 is the first biobased, organic corrosion inhibiting concrete admixture that passes the ASTM G180 protocol under ISO 17025 accredited testing.

Without a doubt, durability of concrete structures is one of the biggest issues concerning engineers today. This unfortunately has been evidenced in recent tragedies such as the collapse of a residential building in Florida and the Morandi bridge in Italy. Maintenance and structural durability are essential to avoid fatal accidents like these. Durability can be greatly extended with a careful technical approach whether dealing with new or existing construction. Corrosion is the deterioration of materials over time. It is a serious problem for engineers who use metal products in their structures, because it can be a major safety hazard. Corrosion of metal reinforcement is a critical risk factor for the durability of structures, and as such, the development and selection of corrosion inhibiting admixtures has to be taken seriously. One of the most efficient methods to extend service life of structures is by using MCI® Technology, which has proven efficiency even in severely corrosive environments. Structures protected with MCI® will have a stronger resistance to corrosion and therefore longer durability.

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.

When incorporated into concrete, MCI®-2005 forms a protective molecular layer on embedded metals to inhibit corrosion. In new construction, this is quantified by an increase in critical chloride threshold and subsequent reduction in corrosion rates once corrosion initiates. When used with repair mortars and grouts, it is also able to migrate into undisturbed concrete adjacent to the repair to protect reinforcement already in place.

MCI®-2005 Successfully Passed ASTM G180 Testing

ASTM G180 Linear Polarization Curve for MCI®-2005

Cortec® Laboratories conducted ASTM G180, one of two corrosion performance tests specified in ASTM C1582, Standard Specification for Admixtures to Inhibit Chloride-Induced Corrosion of Reinforcing Steel in Concrete. This testing method is used to ensure admixtures measure up to widely accepted industry standards for the selection and qualification of corrosion inhibiting admixtures. Cortec® Laboratories provided the testing through its independent ISO 17025 accreditation. This test is important for a variety of reasons as it measures corrosion inhibition ability in chloride environments. Manufacturers use it to screen new chemistry formulations for their potential as corrosion inhibiting admixtures. Chemistries that pass ASTM G180 testing, which is conducted over the course of three days, have a strong vote of confidence for their corrosion inhibiting ability; whereas those that do not pass this quick test must undergo years of additional testing under ASTM G109. ASTM G180 is needed for quality assurance of existing products or as part of an audit like the one recently performed by Cortec® Laboratories on MCI®-2005 for Cortec® Middle East and Dubai Municipality. Finally, ASTM G180 testing is also critical for engineers working with DOTs who require corrosion inhibitors to pass ASTM C1582 before use on their projects.

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

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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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