Abstract:
A corrosion inhibitor formulation for use in reinforced concrete structures, the inhibitor reducing the rate of corrosion in metallic reinforcing rods placed within the structures. The formulation comprises a mixture of benzoic acid, aldonic acid, and a triazole such as benzotriazole or tolyltriazole.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to corrosion inhibitors for use in reinforced concrete structures, and more particularly to corrosion inhibitors for reducing the rate of corrosion in metallic reinforcing rods placed within structures formed of concrete. The present inhibitor is designed for use in admixture with raw concrete, and hence is provided on an in-situ basis within the concrete mixing. 
     Concrete structures such as highways and bridges typically utilize metallic reinforcement members embedded therewithin to provide stability and additional strength to the concrete, and to enhance the ability of the concrete to withstand shear forces. These reinforcements are typically in the form of reinforcing rods, wire mesh, metallic fibers, and the like, and are usually situated in regular intervals within the cured concrete by pouring raw or uncured concrete therearound or, in the case of metallic fibers, added during the concrete mixing operation, for subsequent curing. The term &#34;raw concrete&#34; is utilized in a comprehensive sense, and is intended to relate to wet workable concrete mixtures which have not yet cured to their solid form. Upon the passage of time, the metallic reinforcements have a tendency to corrode as external elements such as moisture, atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxide, oxides of sulfur, oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide road treatment chemicals permeate through the concrete structure and reach the metal. When utilized in highways, bridges, and parking structures, chlorides including sodium chloride and calcium chloride may permeate the concrete structure due to the widespread utilization of such materials as a mechanism to melt ice and snow from the road surfaces. Both calcium chloride and sodium chloride are widely used for this purpose. 
     In order to facilitate the access of inhibitors to concrete reinforcements, including particularly the surfaces of concrete reinforcements, it is desirable that corrosion inhibitors be added to the raw concrete mixture in order to provide for contact with the surfaces of the metallic reinforcement members or structures. The corrosion inhibitor added in this fashion normally migrates at a rate sufficient to provide ongoing protection over relatively extended periods of time, and hence have an ability to protect the metallic reinforcements over such a period of time. It is, of course, always possible to boost the effectiveness of the inhibitor on a post-cure basis, provided the inhibitor can be placed within the body of the concrete. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a formulation has been developed which is readily adapted for use in admixture with raw or wet concrete mixtures, and which provides long-lasting and reliable corrosion inhibiting properties for metallic reinforcements. The formulation of the present invention facilitates the inhibition of corrosion while, at the same time, not adversely impacting or affecting the curing rate or ultimate strength of the concrete in which it is added. 
     Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved in-situ corrosion inhibitor designed for admixture with raw or wet concrete mixtures, in which metallic reinforcements are placed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved formulation for use in admixture with raw or wet concrete mixtures wherein the formulation provides protection for the metallic reinforcements without adversely affecting the curing rate or ultimate strength of the concrete. 
     Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification and appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     By way of summary, the present invention utilizes a mixture which is designed for use in admixture with raw or wet concrete, and wherein the formulation for the mixture employs a corrosion inhibitor having the formula: ##STR1## where &#34;n&#34; is an integer having a value of 6 or 7 including its water soluble salts, in an amount sufficient to hinder corrosion, and water soluble salts of benzoic or substituted benzoic acid, together with an amount of benzotriazole and/or tolyltriazole, and/or their water soluble salts, the triazole compounds being optionally included for certain applications. While the incorporation of certain glucose substances in concrete may retard the rate of curing, their concentration level of the formulations of the present invention is sufficiently low so that no adverse affects occur upon curing. 
     Typically, the mixtures of the present invention comprise a mixture of water soluble salts of benzoic or substituted benzoic acid in an amount ranging from 8% to 12%, an aldonic acid having the formula: ##STR2## where &#34;n&#34; is an integer having a value of 6 or 7 including its water soluble salts, in an amount effective to hinder corrosion in an amount ranging from between 34% and 36%, water in an amount ranging from between 52% and 58%, and up to 1% of a triazole selected from the group consisting of tolyltriazole, benzotriazole, and their water soluble salts. The term &#34;water soluble salts&#34; in connection with aldonic acid and the listed triazoles typically include sodium, potassium, and ammonium derivatives. Benzotriazole, for example, forms stable metallic salts which are water soluble. These triazole compounds are particularly desirable when copper or copper alloys are embedded or otherwise in contact with the cured concrete. In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that the formulation of the present invention is provided in admixture to the raw concrete in an amount ranging from between 8 ounces and ounces per cubic yard of wet concrete. This typically ranges from between 16 ounces and 40 ounces. The corrosion inhibiting mixture of the present invention is typically added during mixing and blending of the raw concrete, and may be undertaken without difficulty during virtually any point in the mixing process, the only requirement being, of course, that the inhibitor becomes reasonably uniformly blended prior to pouring. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a corrosion inhibitor for reducing corrosion in reinforcement materials within concrete consists of a mixture having the following general formulation: 
     
         ______________________________________Component            Percentage by Weight______________________________________Water soluble salts of benzoic and                 8%-12%substituted benzoic acidAldonic acid or its water soluble salts                34%-36%Water                52%-58%Benzotriazole, tolyltriazole including                up to 1%.their water soluble salts______________________________________ 
    
     In admixture, the selected formulation is mixed within raw concrete in an amount ranging from between about 8 ounces and 48 ounces per cubic yard of raw concrete. The present invention may be practiced in accordance with the following preferred examples. 
    
    
     EXAMPLE I 
     A corrosion inhibiting mixture was prepared in accordance with the following formulation: 
     
         ______________________________________Component        Percentage by Weight______________________________________Ammonium benzoate            10%Sodium glucoheptonate            35%Water            55%Benzotriazole    trace, less than 1%.______________________________________ 
    
     This formulation was provided in admixture with concrete in an amount of 8 ounces by weight per cubic yard of concrete for inhibiting the corrosion of metallic reinforcements. 
     EXAMPLE II 
     A corrosion inhibiting mixture was prepared in accordance with the following formulation: 
     
         ______________________________________Component        Percentage by Weight______________________________________Ammonium benzoate             8%Sodium glucoheptonate            36%Water            56%Benzotriazole    trace, less than 1%.______________________________________ 
    
     This formulation was provided in admixture with concrete in an amount of 16 ounces per cubic yard raw concrete for inhibiting the corrosion of metallic reinforcements. 
     EXAMPLE III 
     A corrosion inhibiting mixture was prepared in accordance with the following formulation: 
     
         ______________________________________Component        Percentage by Weight______________________________________Ammonium benzoate            12%Sodium glucoheptonate            34%Water            53%Benzotriazole      1%.______________________________________ 
    
     This formulation was provided in admixture with concrete in an amount of 32 ounces per cubic yard of raw concrete for inhibiting the corrosion of metallic reinforcements. 
     EXAMPLE IV 
     A corrosion inhibiting mixture was prepared in accordance with the following formulation: 
     
         ______________________________________Component        Percentage by Weight______________________________________Ammonium benzoate             9%Sodium glucoheptonate            35%Water            55%Benzotriazole      1%.______________________________________ 
    
     This formulation was provided in admixture with concrete in an amount of 48 ounces per cubic yard of raw concrete for inhibiting the corrosion of metallic reinforcements. 
     GENERAL DISCUSSION 
     As has been indicated, the utilization of the formulations based upon mixtures in accordance with the present invention enhance the lifetime of metallic reinforcements so as to preserve the integrity of concrete structures, particularly highways, bridges and automobile parking facilities. The widespread utilization of chloride-containing salts such as sodium chloride and calcium chloride, while necessary for safety purposes, have been detrimental to the integrity of reinforced concrete structures. Automobiles carry certain residual amounts of these chloride-containing materials onto areas which are not normally exposed, but which nevertheless are adversely affected by relatively rapid deterioration of the metallic reinforcements. 
     Reinforced concrete structures are typically provided with steel bars and/or rods for longitudinal tension reinforcement as well as compression reinforcement, and reinforcement against diagonal tension. Expanded metal, steel-wire mesh, hoop iron or other thin rods may be embedded in the concrete structure for reinforcement purposes. Being ferrous-based materials, and as indicated hereinabove, the integrity of the reinforcement is subject to deterioration whenever exposure to chloride-containing salts, oxides of sulfur or nitrogen are encountered. When mixtures containing the formulations of the present invention are utilized in the concrete on an in-situ basis, significant protection of the reinforcement is obtained. 
     To enhance mixing of the formulation of the present invention with wet or raw concrete, it is sometimes desirable to blend the formulation with an inert carrier in order to enhance the dispersion of the formulation within the wet concrete. Inert carriers for blending into wet concrete are, of course, well known, with silica powder being one of many examples. 
     It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made in the present invention, and that the formulations provided hereinabove are deemed representative only and are not to be deemed limiting for the true spirit and scope of the invention.