The Threat of Chloride Attack

Coastal infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including ports, jetties, seawater cooling intakes, and coastal bridges, is highly susceptible to chloride attack. Chloride ions from seawater penetrate the concrete cover, depassivating the steel reinforcement and starting a rapid rust cycle that expands and splits the surrounding concrete.

Hybrid Galvanic Anodes: A Strategic Defense

To mitigate reinforcement corrosion, traditional repair methods often fail due to the “incipient anode effect,” which accelerates corrosion in concrete areas adjacent to the patch. Advanced electrochemical solutions like DuoGuard™ and PatchGuard™ hybrid anodes provide localized protection.

Developed in alliance with Concrete Preservation Technologies (CPT), these sacrificial galvanic anodes are embedded during repair. They supply protective current to the steel, halting chloride-induced corrosion and extending the life of marine assets by decades.

Steps in Concrete Preservation

• Diagnosis: Perform half-cell potential mapping and chloride profiling to locate active corrosion zones.
• Preparation: Break out contaminated concrete and clean the exposed steel reinforcement.
• Anode Installation: Install hybrid anodes directly onto the steel before applying repair mortars (e.g., CICOMORTAR®).