Concrete Cancer Article Index for
Concrete
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Information About

Concrete Cancer





Theory


As Concrete ages, it will begin to deteriorate and, if the cement is too alkaline, the ageing process causes star-shaped cracks to appear which will allow rainwater to penetrate. In wintertime, in cool temperate and in cold climates, the deterioration is accelerated due to freeze-thawing of the water within the cracks. This phenomenon is known as 'concrete cancer'BBC h2g2 Encyclopaedia Project – Concrete Cancer entry {Link without Title}


Treatment


Concrete cancer can be treated in some structures”Our House” TV program – Nine Network - Fact Sheet (NineMSN)[http://ourhouse.ninemsn.com.au/ourhouse/factsheets/db/tips/02/287.asp]. In order to effect repairs, the spalled concrete must be removed and any exposed steel must either be replaced or cleaned and treated. The area is then repaired to the original concrete profile using cement mortar, epoxy mortar or concrete, depending on the size of the damage and the structural requirements. Cracks are repaired using suitable epoxy resins, special mortars and injection techniques BBC h2g2 Encyclopaedia Project ibid [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4014172].


Incidence

The BBC quoted Professor Andrew Beeby, University Of Leeds civil engineering lecturer and a member of the Magazine of Concrete Research's editorial panel, as saying:


"Concrete cancer has enjoyed a lot of media coverage and prompted a huge amount of research. It is very rare and tends to make a structure look nasty rather than render it unsafe." BBC News “In defence of concrete”, 13 January 2001; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1114063.stm



Structures said to be affected



REFERENCES



FURTHER READING