Effectiveness of sealers in counteracting alkali-silica reaction in highway median barriers exposed to wetting and drying, freezing and thawing, and deicing salt

This study follows another experimental study where different types of sealers were applied on plain and air-entrained large concrete cylinders made with high-alkali contents and highly alkali–silica reactive limestone aggregates. The main objective was to determine the effectiveness of these sealers in counteracting concrete expansion and surface deterioration due to alkali–silica reaction under various exposure conditions. This study indicated that all three sealers tested, the silane-, oligosiloxane-, and polysiloxane-based sealers, could stop concrete expansion due to ASR and even produced contraction, even for concrete cylinders subjected to wetting and drying, freezing and thawing, and sodium chloride solutions. In 1991, the same silane, oligosiloxane, and polysiloxane were applied on sections of median barriers showing various degrees of deterioration due to ASR. These sections were subjected to wetting and drying, freezing and thawing, and, during winter, to deicing salt. The silane was also applied on other sections of the same barriers in 1994. Observations and measurements over 10 years indicate that the aesthetic appearance of these median barriers, particularly those sealed with the silane, was greatly improved, while internal humidity was significantly reduced, and concrete expansion as well, when not arrested. The period of time during which the above three sealers were capable to stop ASR expansion varies with the sealer used and the degree of concrete deterioration at the time of sealing. For instance, the silane, which was the best among all products tested, caused concrete contraction for at least 6 years in median barriers that were severely affected by ASR, and likely for more than 10 years in moderately affected barriers. The overall results confirm the conclusions obtained previously in the laboratory: a good sealer such as the silane tested may greatly improve the aesthetic appearance and stop the expansion of non-massive ASR-affected concrete members, at least up to about 300 mm in thickness, and subjected to wetting and drying, freezing and thawing, and salt water. However, the poor result obtained in the field with another silane-based sealer indicates that a sealer cannot be selected based on its composition only.Key words: alkali–silica reaction, concrete; cracking, expansion, internal humidity, median barrier, sealer, silane, siloxane.