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Advanced Coating Barriers for the Protection of Reinforced Concrete and...
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Advanced Coating Barriers for the Protection of Reinforced Concrete and Pavement, 3rd Edition

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Architectural and Infrastructure Coatings".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 4137

Editor

Dr. Junjie Wang

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Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: sustainable building materials with low CO2 emissions and low energy costs (such as recycled cement, geopolymer concrete, and recycled aggregate concrete); highly durable and high-performance concrete in marine environments; non-destructive testing methods for concrete structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Concrete has become the most widely used construction material since its invention. Reinforced concrete, comprising steel within concrete, can withstand both compressive and tension forces. The requirements for concrete raw materials, such as natural stones and river sand, have been increasing, especially in developed countries where massive amounts of infrastructure are being built. The consumption of these materials is incredibly rapid, and in some cases, there is already a limited local supply. This trend has led to the requirement of a longer service life of reinforced concrete structures.

Reinforced concrete structures can be subjected to different environmental actions; these include, for example, steel corrosion in concrete caused by chloride ions from marine environments and where deicing salts are used, and carbonation by CO2 in the atmosphere. Immersed concrete structures can suffer from sulfate attack when sulfate ions are present in the surrounding water. The corrosion of steel in concrete has become the most important durability and safety concern for reinforced concrete structures. Additionally, cracks may facilitate the ingress of these harmful substances into concrete and thereby accelerate the corrosion process of steel. All of these affect the service life of reinforced concrete structures.

Effective coating barriers can provide protection to reinforced concrete in withstanding the effects of harmful substances. Effective coating barriers include coatings on concrete surfaces and steel surfaces. The coatings on concrete surfaces can be made of silane or other waterproof materials that prevent the ingress of water. Epoxy can be used as the coating on the steel surface, which isolates the steel from harmful substances. Other innovative coatings can also be applied. There is an urgent demand to understand the performance of these coatings, especially their long-term performance, including in terms of bonding loss, degradation, etc.

For this Special Issue, topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Long-term performance of coatings on steel or concrete surfaces in reinforced concrete;
  • Degradation mechanisms of coatings;
  • Epoxy coatings on steel in concrete;
  • Silane coatings on concrete surfaces;
  • Innovative coatings on concrete surface, such as waterproof coatings, breathable coatings, etc.

Dr. Junjie Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pavement
  • concrete
  • epoxy coatings
  • protective coatings
  • innovative coatings

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 7948 KB  
Article
Interfacial Shear Fatigue and Damage Evolution of Epoxy-Emulsified Asphalt Bond Coats Under Coupled Effects of Temperature, Loading Frequency and Stress Level
by Rui Sun, Jiyi Li and Lingyun Kong
Coatings 2026, 16(7), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16070879 - 22 Jul 2026
Viewed by 396
Abstract
Interfacial bond failure is a common form of distress in rigid–flexible composite pavements, especially in tunnel environments with harsh service conditions. Epoxy-emulsified asphalt (EEA) is widely used as a high-performance interlayer bond coat, but its dynamic damage evolution under coupled thermomechanical loading remains [...] Read more.
Interfacial bond failure is a common form of distress in rigid–flexible composite pavements, especially in tunnel environments with harsh service conditions. Epoxy-emulsified asphalt (EEA) is widely used as a high-performance interlayer bond coat, but its dynamic damage evolution under coupled thermomechanical loading remains insufficiently characterised. In this work, 45° static oblique shear tests and stress-controlled dynamic shear fatigue tests were performed on a C40 concrete-EEA-asphalt mixture composite system. Tests covered a temperature range of −10 °C to 45 °C, loading frequencies of 1 to 15 Hz, and three stress levels (0.3, 0.4, 0.5). An optimised geometric tangent method (GTM) was adopted to objectively locate the fatigue failure inflexion point, reducing the empirical bias inherent in traditional stiffness degradation analysis. Test results showed that an EEA application rate of 0.8 kg/m2 yielded the best overall interface performance, balancing mechanical interlocking and cohesive strength. At this application rate, the interfacial peak shear strength reached 1.72 MPa, with improved interfacial deformation compatibility and energy dissipation capacity. Fatigue damage followed a distinct three-stage stiffness degradation pattern. High temperatures and low loading frequencies accelerated rheological behaviour of the asphalt phase, shortened the stable damage propagation phase, and promoted premature interlayer slippage. Based on the experimental data, a phenomenological fatigue life prediction model was established, incorporating temperature, loading frequency and stress level. The model supports quantitative assessment of progressive interfacial damage and provides practical reference for structural durability design and life-cycle maintenance of composite tunnel pavements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Coating Barriers for the Protection of Reinforced Concrete and Pavement, 3rd Edition)
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25 pages, 8204 KB  
Article
Macroscopic Mechanical Properties and Multi-Scale Microstructural Coupling Mechanism of Saline–Alkali Soil Stabilized by Guar Gum-Portland Cement Composite System
by Shaowu Li, Peigang Liu, Pengfei Qiao, Zehui Sun, Mingyang Sun, Mo Zhang and Xinxin Cao
Coatings 2026, 16(7), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16070756 - 25 Jun 2026
Viewed by 512
Abstract
Saline-affected soils exhibit poor mechanical properties and are prone to durability degradation under environmental disturbances, severely hindering infrastructure development in saline-affected regions. This study adopted a synergistic consolidation treatment for sulfate-salinized soils using a guar gum (GG) and Portland cement composite system, formulating [...] Read more.
Saline-affected soils exhibit poor mechanical properties and are prone to durability degradation under environmental disturbances, severely hindering infrastructure development in saline-affected regions. This study adopted a synergistic consolidation treatment for sulfate-salinized soils using a guar gum (GG) and Portland cement composite system, formulating 25 mix designs with GG content ranging from 0% to 2% and cement content from 0% to 12%. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS), dry–wet cycle durability, and repeated load fatigue performance of the stabilized soils were systematically tested. Combined with microstructural characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and CT scanning, the evolution patterns of the solidified soil’s mechanical properties and the macro-micro interaction mechanisms were revealed. Results indicate that cement is the primary strength source in cement-stabilized soil: at a cement dosage of 12%, the UCS reaches 2.53 MPa, a 41-fold increase compared to the native soil. A significant synergistic strengthening effect exists between cement and GG at the optimal GG dosage of 0.5%–1.0%, with the optimal mixture ratio being 6%–9% cement blended with 0.5%–1.0% GG. With this optimized ratio, the stabilized soil shows a strength retention rate of 87.2% after 10 dry–wet cycles, and its fatigue life extends to 1986 cycles (a 42.6% increase compared to pure cement-stabilized specimens). Microstructural analysis suggests that the stabilization process is fundamentally governed by interfacial micro-coating mechanisms. The reaction between cement aluminates and soil sulfates generates abundant ettringite, which is hypothesized to form a rigid skeletal framework. Simultaneously, GG forms a hydrogel network that acts as a dense, protective organic–inorganic micro-coating on the surface of soil aggregates and cement phases. This interfacial encapsulation optimizes the pore structure, reducing porosity to 1.43% and fundamentally blocking inward water infiltration pathways at the aggregate interface. However, excessive GG (>1.5%) coats cement particles, hinders hydration reactions and induces structural defects, ultimately leading to performance degradation. This study elucidates the macro-micro coupled mechanism of GG-cement composite consolidation for saline–alkali soils, providing theoretical foundations and technical solutions for saline–alkali soil consolidation engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Coating Barriers for the Protection of Reinforced Concrete and Pavement, 3rd Edition)
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25 pages, 6094 KB  
Article
Crack Extension Characteristics of Continuously Reinforced Concrete and Asphalt Composite Pavements Under Thermo-Mechanical Coupling and Non-Uniform Tire Loading
by Xizhong Xu, Xiaomeng Zhang, Xiangpeng Yan, Jincheng Wei, Jiabo Hu and Wenjuan Wu
Coatings 2026, 16(4), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16040437 - 4 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 604
Abstract
This study investigates the fracture initiation and propagation mechanisms of continuously reinforced concrete–asphalt (CRC+AC) composite pavements under the synergistic effects of diurnal temperature fluctuations and non-uniform tire loading. A three-dimensional (3D) thermo-mechanical coupled finite element (FE) model was developed, with its underlying mechanical [...] Read more.
This study investigates the fracture initiation and propagation mechanisms of continuously reinforced concrete–asphalt (CRC+AC) composite pavements under the synergistic effects of diurnal temperature fluctuations and non-uniform tire loading. A three-dimensional (3D) thermo-mechanical coupled finite element (FE) model was developed, with its underlying mechanical framework validated through laboratory-scale model tests conducted at 20 °C. The experimental results, involving strain monitoring at varying depths, demonstrated a high degree of consistency with numerical predictions in terms of spatial strain distribution, thereby ensuring the model’s reliability in capturing interlayer load-transfer efficiency. Building upon this validated mechanical foundation, numerical simulations were extended to analyze the low-temperature fracture response. The numerical results indicate that the maximum longitudinal and transverse tensile stresses in the asphalt layer are concentrated at the pavement surface, whereas the maximum shear stress occurs at a depth of 2–3 cm near the leading and trailing edges of the wheel load. Under low-temperature gradients, the Mode I stress intensity factor (KI) at the crack tip exhibits a distinct diurnal opening–closing–reopening pattern, peaking at approximately 220 kPa·m1/2 during the early morning hours (05:00–06:00). Furthermore, numerical simulations reveal the significant sensitivity of shear-sliding to axle loads; specifically, the peak Mode II stress intensity factor (KII) increases monotonically from 190 to 230 kPa·m1/2 as the axle load rises from 10 t to 16 t. Under non-uniform contact pressure, longitudinal cracking is primarily characterized by a mixed Mode I and Mode II mechanism driven by coupled tensile and shear stresses, whereas transverse cracking is dominated by Mode II shear failure. These findings suggest that implementing targeted traffic restrictions for overloaded vehicles during identified high-risk time windows can significantly enhance the structural durability and service life of composite pavements in cold regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Coating Barriers for the Protection of Reinforced Concrete and Pavement, 3rd Edition)
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Review

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19 pages, 3111 KB  
Review
A Review of Carbonation of C-S-H: From Atomic Structure to Macroscopic Behavior
by Yi Zhao and Junjie Wang
Coatings 2026, 16(4), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16040448 - 8 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2122
Abstract
Calcium–silicate–hydrate (C-S-H), the primary binding phase governing cement paste cohesion, undergoes progressive physicochemical transformation upon carbonation—a process that critically dictates concrete durability in atmospheric environments. When CO2 penetrates the porous cement matrix, it triggers a cascade of degradation mechanisms: calcium leaching decalcifies [...] Read more.
Calcium–silicate–hydrate (C-S-H), the primary binding phase governing cement paste cohesion, undergoes progressive physicochemical transformation upon carbonation—a process that critically dictates concrete durability in atmospheric environments. When CO2 penetrates the porous cement matrix, it triggers a cascade of degradation mechanisms: calcium leaching decalcifies the C-S-H structure, inducing polymerization of silicate chains from dimeric to longer-chain configurations, while concurrent precipitation of calcium carbonate and amorphous silica gel fundamentally reconstitutes the nanoscale architecture. These nanoscale alterations propagate to macroscopic property evolution, manifesting as initial strength and stiffness gains due to pore-filling carbonation products followed by eventual deterioration as the cohesive binding network deteriorates. This review synthesizes current understanding of carbonation-induced structural evolution, examining the coupled influences of environmental parameters—CO2 concentration, relative humidity, and temperature—alongside C-S-H intrinsic chemistry (Ca/Si ratio, aluminum substitution, and alkali content) on reaction kinetics and material performance. However, significant knowledge gaps persist: predictive models for in-service carbonation rates remain elusive due to the disconnect between idealized laboratory conditions and the heterogeneous, cracked reality of field concrete; the causal linkage between nanoscale C-S-H alteration and macroscale cracking patterns along with physical performance is poorly resolved, and most mechanistic studies rely on synthetic C-S-H, neglecting the compositional complexity of real Portland cement systems. We further propose emerging protection strategies, including surface barrier coatings and low-carbon alternative binders (geopolymers, calcium sulfoaluminate cements, carbon-negative materials such as recycled cement), which demonstrate enhanced carbonation resistance. Future research priorities include developing effective coating barriers for carbonation protection, developing operando characterization techniques for real-time reaction monitoring, deploying machine learning algorithms to bridge atomistic simulations with structural-scale predictions, and establishing long-term field performance databases to validate laboratory-derived degradation models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Coating Barriers for the Protection of Reinforced Concrete and Pavement, 3rd Edition)
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