For successful and sustainable repair, the workability of repair materials must be optimal. To achieve this, a mixture must be added to the repair material. High permeability of the repair material allows water, chemicals, CO2, oxygen, industrial gas, etc., to easily penetrate the structure, such as reinforced concrete. These chemicals can affect the reinforcement of concrete.
The pH value of the concrete surrounding the reinforcement should be greater than 11.5 to prevent steel corrosion. The repair material must not reduce the alkalinity of the base material. Alkaline factors are essential for all types of repair work and the selection of repair material. The setting and hardening time of the repair material should be minimal, so that the repaired structure can be used quickly and reduce downtime of machinery, buildings or roads.
When selecting a repair material, it is important to consider its durability and shrinkage properties in addition to cost. If the workability of the repair material is too low, it will not be easy to apply, so workability is also an important factor in selecting a repair material for building maintenance.
