These structures tend to be built from concrete, one of the strongest manmade materials on Earth. However, concrete is by no means destined to live an infinitely strong life without any degradation. To the contrary, concrete is incredibly strong, but it is also susceptible to overwhelming damage.
Concrete is created by mixing together water, Portland cement, and some sort of aggregate, such as gravel or sand. Directly linked to this process are the numerous microscopic pores and hairline cracks that extend like a network throughout each and every concrete slab. These pores and cracks leave concrete susceptible to water damage and other potential harm from salts and other minerals. Over time, these threats can degrade the structural integrity of the concrete, which can be utterly disastrous and tragic if it happens to bridges.
In order to prevent collapses and increase the longevity of our bridges concrete, the bridges need to be sealed as soon as possible after their pouring with a high quality concrete sealer. A concrete sealer like the Department of Transportation Approved Siloxa-Tek 8500 will offer a comprehensive level of protection for concrete bridges, with the small, penetrating particles of silane working in concert with the larger, surface particles of siloxane to create a hydrophobic barrier that locks out water and harmful salts. With just this simple application, the lives of bridges can be improved a hundredfold, ensuring the longest lasting and strongest concrete humanly possible.
