The new Ridgefield Park Village (NJ) salt storage depot, which houses tons of salt and a liquid salt mix, was opened in time for this year’s winter blizzards. Mixing PENETRON ADMIX during batching of the structure’s concrete ensures this depot structure will resist chloride ion penetration and avoid corrosion.
A hoop-house style construction, the new salt storage depot was built on a concrete foundation to support the weight of the salt piles and with concrete walls. Located in Ridgefield Park Village, NJ, adjacent to the New Jersey Turnpike, this depot provides storage for 4,500 tons of salt, more than enough for a typical Northeast Winter.
“PENETRON was specified on the project by the New Jersey Turnpike Commission because of the extremely high levels of chloride,” explains Christopher Chen, Director of The PENETRON Group. “The chloride penetration challenge was compounded by the construction of an additional liquid salt treatment mixing station, which mixes salt and other chemicals to pretreat the turnpike before a snow fall.”
Chloride ions from the road salt and liquid salt mix can penetrate the pores and cracks found in concrete, which can quickly lead to corrosion of the underlying steel rebar. The resulting rust creates expansive pressure that cracks the surrounding concrete, leading to delamination and spalling.
“Once corrosion starts, it is difficult to determine the extent of damage to the steel reinforcements,” adds Mr. Chen.
Added during batching, PENETRON ADMIX ensures resistance to chloride ion permeability thanks to the non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. These crystals permanently seal concrete against the penetration of water or liquids from any direction, even in harsh environmental conditions. Tests have shown the service life of concrete is extended up to 60 years or more.
PENETRON ADMIX in soluble bags was mixed into fresh concrete at the Clayton Block Companies’ batching plant and used in the foundation and walls of the NJ salt storage depot. The soluble bags eliminate measuring and simplify mixing, and the treated concrete will arrest any potential salt penetration into the concrete structure, protecting the underlying rebar.
“This is the first of many new salt depots being commissioned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation,” adds Mr. Chen. “The PENETRON crystalline waterproofing technology will ensure the structures are durable and functional for decades.”
Walls up, base slab next: workers prepare the base slab of the NJ salt depot for the concrete pour.
