SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop processes and products that effectively prevent corrosion of steel-reinforced concrete, and enhance the interface and mechanical properties between the reinforcing steel and the concrete. A tough and easily applied reinforcement coating would be relatively insensitive to damage during transit and placement. Also, the improved mechanical interface with the cement matrix would reduce the ability of moisture to migrate along the reinforcement, which would increase the life cycle of the reinforced structures. This technology is expected to be robust and inexpensive and have potential commercial applications throughout the construction industries.

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a new class of cement-steel interfaces for high performance steel reinforcing bars for concrete. In Phase I the project demonstrated a bar coating system that can protect against corrosion of steel in concrete structures and has improved adhesion characteristics between steel reinforcement and the cement matrix. Phase II continues to refine the properties and techniques for producing this new class of High Performance Non-corroding Steel-Reinforced Concrete. Improved corrosion resistance of steel reinforcement in concrete structures could address a major infrastructure problem that has been estimated to require up to $3 trillion for repair. The potentially cost effective coatings to be developed and commercially applied during production runs in steel mills would result in a value added product of major importance for managing the infrastructure. Improvements in adherence and corrosion resistance would be highly beneficial, for example, in corrosive highway deicing environments and marine structures.