Innovative nano-based coatings for protection of concrete

必须用高性能材料建造和定期维护重要的混凝土基础设施，以尽量减少过早损坏的风险以及相关的高昂维护费用和社会经济损失。Spray-Lock Concrete Protection（SL，美国混凝土应用纳米二氧化硅产品生产商）和温尼伯市（COW，加拿大市政当局/最终用户）正在与申请人合作开展一项研究项目，以使用先进的表面涂层改善混凝土桥梁和路面的整体性能。该项目的具体目标是探索纳米二氧化硅胶体（SL生产）和合成纳米改性聚合物复合材料作为加拿大混凝土桥梁和路面严重暴露下混凝土保护涂层的性能。如果这些新型涂料有资格在未来的现场研究中用作混凝土的预防或修复系统（长期目标），则此信息至关重要。纳米改性表面涂料作为保护新浇混凝土、现有混凝土或修复混凝土的可行选择的成功可能会为SL创造更多的商机，例如在加拿大建立新的生产设施，目前加拿大还没有本地制造混凝土纳米涂料的能力。拟议的项目将有助于增加使用新型纳米涂料作为建筑行业最终产品的信心。随后将进行现场示范试验，成功地将纳米涂料组合作为温尼伯混凝土桥梁不同构件修复的表面处理，并将此类最终产品纳入COW混凝土规范。参与未来现场试验的生产商，咨询公司和承包商将能够通过研究团队的技术转让应用新型纳米涂料。随着通过国家/国际讲习班更广泛地传播知识，这一举措将通过鼓励更多地实施新颖、高效和具有成本效益的运输基础设施保护战略，对加拿大基础设施及其他地区的可持续发展产生积极影响。

Construction and periodic maintenance of vital concrete infrastructure with high-performance materials are required to minimize the risk of premature failures and associated high maintenance costs and socioeconomic losses. Spray-Lock Concrete Protection (SL, U.S. producer of nano-silica products for concrete applications) and the City of Winnipeg (COW, Canadian municipality/end user) are collaborating with the applicant in a research project to improve the overall performance of concrete bridges and pavements using advanced surface coatings. The specific objective of the project is to explore the performance of nano-silica colloids (produced by SL) and synthesized nano-modified polymer composites as protective coatings for concrete under severe exposures encountered by concrete bridges and pavements in Canada. This information is essential if these novel coatings are to qualify for use as preventive or rehabilitation systems for concrete in future field studies (long-term objective). Success of nano-modified surface coatings as a viable option for protecting newly poured, existing or repair concrete may create additional business opportunities for SL, such as establishing new production facilities in Canada, which currently does not have local manufacturing for nano-based coatings for concrete. The proposed project will contribute to increasing confidence in using novel nano-based coatings as end products in the construction sector. It will be followed by field demonstration trials on successful combinations of nano-based coatings as surface treatments for rehabilitation of different elements of concrete bridges in Winnipeg, and incorporation of such end products in the COW concrete specifications. Producers, consulting firms and contractors participating in the future field trials will be able to apply novel types of nano-based coatings through technology transfer from the research team. With wider dissemination of knowledge through national/international workshops, this initiative will positively influence the sustainable development of Canadian infrastructure and beyond, by encouraging greater implementation of novel, high-performance, and cost-efficient protection strategies for transportation infrastructure.