Innovative Coatings for Enhancing the Corrosion Resistance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures

Dear Colleagues,

Reinforced concrete structures play a critical role in a nation’s socio-economic development. Such infrastructure often represents the most significant public investment and is regarded as a key national asset. Reinforced concrete is widely selected for construction owing to several advantages, including adequate mechanical performance, the ready availability of raw materials, and a relatively straightforward manufacturing process. Furthermore, its versatility, workability, intrinsic properties, and aesthetic potential render it suitable for a wide range of structural applications.

Nonetheless, a major challenge associated with reinforced concrete lies in its limited durability, primarily due to the corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement. The degradation of steel and its consequences raise serious concerns regarding structural safety, thereby highlighting the need for developing protective measures—such as innovative coatings—that can enhance durability and extend service life.

Reinforced concrete structures are often exposed to aggressive environmental agents. For example, steel corrosion may be induced by chloride ingress, particularly in marine environments or in regions where de-icing salts are commonly applied, as well as through carbonation processes. Cracks within the concrete matrix can further facilitate the ingress of deleterious substances, accelerating reinforcement corrosion and compromising structural integrity, thus raising safety concerns.

Effective coating systems can serve as protective barriers, enabling reinforced concrete to resist environmental aggressors and reducing the rate of deterioration. These systems may include surface coatings applied to concrete or coatings applied directly to steel reinforcement prior to casting. In addition, the concrete cover itself may function as a protective layer by maintaining the passive state of the embedded steel. This can be achieved through modified-mix designs or by incorporating additives that reduce the porosity of the cementitious matrix.

There remains an urgent need to investigate current coating technologies and to develop novel, more effective solutions. Equally important is the rigorous evaluation of their performance, particularly regarding durability, long-term performance, degradation mechanisms, and the loss of bond strength, among other factors.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Corrosion protection strategies for reinforced concrete structures;
• Concrete cover as an innovative coating: novel mixtures, components, and performance evaluation;
• Coatings applied on embedded steel reinforcement surfaces;
• Surface coatings applied directly to concrete;
• Coating-forming admixtures integrated into concrete mixtures;
• Long-term performance, durability, and degradation mechanisms of protective coatings.

Prof. Dr. Josep Ramon Lliso-Ferrando
Prof. Dr. Manuel Valcuende-Payá
Prof. Dr. Ana Martínez-Ibernón
Prof. Dr. Isabel Gasch-Molina
Prof. Dr. José Manuel Gandía-Romero
Guest Editors

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• coatings
• concrete cover
• reinforced concrete structures
• durability
• corrosion
• protection