Joint Deterioration and Chloride-Based Deicing Chemicals

Abstract

Salt-rich solutions accumulate in joints in pavements, sidewalks, and other flatwork, particularly when the structures are poorly drained.

Deterioration can occur as a result of physical and chemical mechanisms that are driven by cyclic wetting and drying of members exposed to chloride-rich solutions.

Physical damage is attrib- uted to the concrete reaching critical saturation, which results in freezing-and-thawing damage.

The damage related to chemical attack is due to calcium oxychloride formation, which is expansive.

This type of deicer attack differs from D-cracking or deicer scaling.

Damage manifests primarily as spalling around the walls of the joint and cracking in the concrete parallel to the joint