The influence of concrete substrate moisture condition on the tensile pull-off strength of protective coatings

¹ Spec-con Engineering, Midrand, South Africa
² University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

^* Corresponding author: sean@spec-con.co.za

Abstract

A range of different surface coatings are available for the protection of concrete surfaces, typically aimed at reducing the ingress of deleterious substances into the concrete and providing adequate aesthetic appeal on patch-repaired elements. The coating systems are usually of high material quality and perform well when applied and maintained correctly. The long-term success of protective surface coatings is largely a function of application procedures. In particular, coating durability with regards to bond strength and crack resistance is dependent on the preparation of the concrete substrate prior to coating application. This research gives insight into the effects a sound, clean and profiled concrete substrate that is subjected to different moisture conditions has on coating bond strength. The influence of three different methods to precondition concrete substrates on the tensile pull-off strength of two commercial coatings, applied to substrate concrete with various strengths was investigated. The moisture condition was found to have a significant influence on the pull-off strength of the coatings, higher degrees of substrate saturation typically resulting in higher strengths. Similarly, with increasing substrate moisture content, the failure mode increasingly shifted towards substrate cohesion failure.