Durability of Concrete Treated With Silanes

This article reviews the literature on laboratory tests and describes the condition of several bridges in Ohio and Oklahoma in the U.S. and in Germany that have been treated with silanes. Thirty seven bridges ranging in age up to 15 years, either partially or entirely treated with a 40% silane solution in alcohol, were inspected. Although in two instances in West Germany a positive effect was indicated, the evidence suggests that silane does not affect the freeze-thaw durability of concrete in field exposure, regardless of whether the concrete possesses intrinsically high or low resistance to damage from freezing and thawing in the presence of deicing salts.