Description #
In this video we look at steel preservation using RLA's Zinc Primer. Protecting steel against future degradation is an essential step to help safeguard the surrounding concrete.Zinc Primer is especially useful in areas where there are harsh conditions and severe corrosion inducing conditions.Watch this video to learn about how to properly apply Zinc Primer, and the benefits it holds for your build.
Transcript #
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[Music]
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Hello and welcome back to another episode of Prep, Set, Go. Today we'll be looking at steel
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preservation using RLA's Zinc Primer. Now the construction industry is one of the biggest uses
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of steel, accounting for 50% of the world's demand. Steel is a common building material
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used for a wide array of building elements from roofs, cladding, hand rails, balustrading, gates
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and doors. It is also commonly used in structural applications to create panels and support beams
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in residential housing applications, right up to large scale applications including bridges,
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skyscrapers, and industrial buildings. Steel is also a major critical component of structural
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concrete elements, providing the necessary internal reinforcement to achieve the required
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strength and loadbearing capacity. The extensive use of steel can be attributed to its versatility,
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relative cost effectiveness, durability, its availability and its unique high strength to
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weight ratio. The downside to steel however is that it is susceptible to rust and corrosion
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when exposed to certain conditions, and in the construction sector zinc primer is often used
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in the treatment of steel reinforcement when conducting concrete repairs. concrete spalling,
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sometimes referred to as concrete cancer, is a major structural defect and can represent
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considerable maintenance and repair cost to buildings. Concrete spalling is caused by
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severe corrosion to steel reinforcement bars caused by chloride ions in conjunction with
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water and oxygen. As the steel rusts it expands and puts pressure on the surrounding concrete,
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causing it to blow out. The concrete can become brittle, crack, and delaminate - allowing
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further exposure to corroding elements that will further exacerbate the issue. RLA zinc
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primer is a one-pack highly durable epoxy resin with sacrificial zinc pigment with outstanding
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adhesion and highly durable finish it protects steel against future degradation thus preserving
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the integrity of the surrounding concrete even in harsh environments and severe corrosion
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inducing conditions. As well as steel preservation in concrete reinforcement, zinc primer can also
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be used as a finish protective coat, or top coated with suitable decorated finishes. Now let's take a
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more in-depth look at the concrete repair process using RLA Zinc Primer. Once all damaged concrete
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has been removed back to a sound base and the steel reinforcement exposed, any rust is to be
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mechanically removed by grinding sanding grip blasting or wire brushing. Treat any remaining
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rust with a suitable deoxidizer or chemical rust remover as required. In some cases where
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the steel reinforcement may have deteriorated beyond salvaging, it may need to be cut out and
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removed and a new section installed. Once the steel has been completely cleaned or replaced,
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stir the zinc primer and apply a liberal coat. The zinc primer passivates the steel
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reinforcement and will protect it from further corrosion. Be careful to apply zinc primer only
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to the reinforcement bars and not to the host concrete. If applied to the host concrete it
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can prevent the bond of subsequent repair mortars and create bonding issues. Once applied and dry,
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use a suitable mortar or specified concrete compound to reinstate damaged sections to the
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required profile. And remember to check out the RLA range of repair mortars and systems
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for suitable options. Zinc primer can be applied by brush roller or spray. For brush and roller
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applications, apply product directly without diluting. And for spray applications over larger
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areas, the product can be thinned with mineral turps. Always apply in a well ventilated area,
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and ensure the area is well ventilated until the product has fully dried. As always remember
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to refer to the latest TDS for all other product application information including coverage rates,
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drying times, weather considerations, and optimal application conditions. So that's
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our look at RLA Zinc Primer, and a basic rundown of it's use in the preservation and treatment of
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steel reinforcement elements in concrete repair applications. We hope you've enjoyed this episode,
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and hope you can join us next time for another episode of Prep, Set, Go. Goodbye [Music]
