A completely new redesign of the Cortec MCI website offers a fresh look at extending concrete structure service life with Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors.

Often, corroding rebar in deteriorating concrete is the cause of costly repairs, financial losses, injuries, and deaths, but Cortec has the corrosion solution.

MCI greatly extends the service life of new structures by proactively delaying the onset of corrosion, and keeping rates low after initiation. In rehabilitation projects, MCI applications can penetrate a considerable distance to significantly reduce the corrosion rate (up to 80 per cent). Cortec MCI products maintain structural integrity, rehabilitate vulnerable structures, and alleviate environmental concerns.

On its new MCI website, Cortec offers these products within a vastly improved online user experience and connects visitors to MCI industry news, learning resources, and more. Visitors can browse newsletters, read the latest news releases about Cortec MCI, or watch videos on the effects of corrosion and MCI protection.

For easier navigation, the website organises Cortec MCI products by four main product categories:

  • Admixtures
  • Surface Treatments
  • Restoration
  • Specialty

Each category’s webpage contains an overview and further organizes products into drop-down lists by subset. The first category describes how MCI admixtures have shown superior corrosion protection compared to both CNI and Amine/Ester admixtures when undergoing intense cycles of saltwater ponding on cracked concrete in modified ASTM G109 testing (cracked beam testing). Other admixtures rely on pore blockers or are limited by a chloride threshold. In contrast, MCI admixtures work independently of chlorides, protect even when cracks occur, and can actually delay set time for better workability. They do not affect the physical properties of concrete when used at the recommended dosage rates. Admixtures come in many types and forms including liquids, powders, fibers, and superplasticizers for new construction.

The surface treatments webpage explains that MCI can also be applied to existing structures to reduce corrosion rates. MCI surface treatments come as both pure inhibitors that penetrate into and migrate through cementitious materials to reach and protect embedded reinforcing metal, and as water repellant products that protect against the ingress of corrosive contaminants at the surface while inhibiting corrosion at the rebar level. Both types of surface treatments have been tested according to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation M-82 Protocol, showing a significant reduction in corrosion and cracking at a high level of chloride exposure.

Categorized under restoration, the website presents MCI products that are available for concrete repairs. These tools are important for slowing the rate of corrosion in deteriorating structures and protecting against the troublesome ring anode/insipient anode effect that often follows concrete repairs. MCIs are available in both single and two component repair products. They are ideal and convenient to add to concrete repair mixtures and are also available as a passivating grout for exposed rebar.

Fourth, a page for specialty products presents a range of unique options to clean concrete stains, protect exposed rebar in storage, passivate rust on poorly prepared steel surfaces, and much more.

Sustainability is another important foundation for Cortec MCI. An entire webpage is devoted to presenting Cortec’s vision for sustainability with information on earning LEED credits and estimating service life for project designs using MCI corrosion inhibitors.

In addition to contact information and MCI social media links, the website has a special tab only for approved reps to log in and access helpful documents, view educational presentations, and join in the private discussion forum with their MCI comments, questions, and experiences.

The revamped website is a major improvement for customers and a great resource for everyone interested in extending the service life of concrete.