Show Wax and Concrete May Be Combined To Make Belter Bridge Surfaces The Monsanto Research under a contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Highway Adminis- may have found a to the growing problem of bridge deck deterioration on the nation's For this problem has meant not only inconveniences such as travel on roadways under but has also forced the diversion of funds from needed highway construction and safety im provement projects to costly bridge deck according to Federal Highway Administrator T. Monsanto's process for Inserting small wax beads during the mixing of concrete to offer great potential for a relatively inexpensive and effective solution to the bridge deck deterioration The requires mixing 3 per cent of wax beads with the concrete The wax solidifies and plugs the capillaries and pores thin preventing salt med in winter de-icing operations from penetrating the concrete and causing deterioration of steel reinforcement Tests indicate that the wax neither alters the physical appearance of the concrete nor has any adverse effect on the skid resistance of the textured concrete unusual technique for improving the durability of said yet another example of the Innovative research efforts being undertaken by Federal and state highway agencies with the cooperation and assistance of private sector research The potential for sayings in maintenance and repair costs as well as for improved motorist safety is Field tests for the process are being planned for the coming construction |