The Corrosion Inhibitor You Only Get One Chance to Add
J Frank Jad
Why SURTREAT® TPS XV May Be the Most Important Decision You Make Before the First Concrete Truck Arrives
Every reinforced concrete structure has one thing in common.
The day it is poured is also the day deterioration begins.
The reinforcing steel is protected by concrete's naturally high alkalinity—but only temporarily. As chlorides, moisture, carbonation, and aggressive chemicals begin penetrating the concrete, corrosion initiates. From that point forward, owners begin paying for a problem they cannot see.
The best time to stop corrosion is before it starts.
That is exactly why SURTREAT® TPS XV was developed.
Unlike surface-applied treatments that are installed years later, TPS XV becomes part of the concrete itself, providing corrosion protection from the moment the structure enters service. It is formulated as a vapor-phase migratory corrosion inhibitor admixture that migrates through the cement pore structure and deposits a protective molecular film on reinforcing steel, protecting both anodic and cathodic corrosion sites.
More Than Corrosion Protection
Most corrosion inhibitor admixtures focus on one objective—reducing corrosion.
TPS XV does considerably more.
Key Performance Benefits
✔ Vapor-phase migration throughout the concrete matrix
✔ Protects reinforcing steel at both anodic and cathodic sites
✔ Meets ASTM C1582 requirements and complies with ASTM G109 corrosion performance testing
✔ Compatible with conventional concrete admixtures
✔ Improves concrete wetting characteristics
✔ Increases durability in chloride-rich environments
✔ Helps extend service life of reinforced concrete structures
✔ Permanent protection incorporated directly into the concrete mix
Independent Testing That Goes Beyond Corrosion
One of the most interesting findings from independent testing is that TPS XV not only protected reinforcing steel—it also improved concrete mechanical properties.
During a shotcrete evaluation performed by The Robert B. Balter Company, concrete containing TPS XV demonstrated:
28-day cylinder strength:8,750 psi versus 7,050 psi for the control mix
28-day core strength:9,130 psi versus 7,935 psi
Flexural strength:1,140 psi versus 1,080 psi
Additional engineering review by Aldea Services LLC concluded that the use of TPS XV increased both compressive and flexural performance while improving the expected design life of the shotcrete system.
TPS XV is particularly valuable where reDesigned for Aggressive Environments
inforced concrete is continuously exposed to chlorides, moisture, and corrosive environments.
Ideal Applications
Bridges
Parking garages
Marine structures
Ports
Wastewater treatment facilities
Tunnels
Industrial facilities
Airports
Water treatment plants
Coastal construction
Precast concrete
Cast-in-place reinforced concrete
Shotcrete rehabilitation
Where corrosion is expected, TPS XV provides protection before deterioration has the opportunity to begin.
Validated Under ASTM Corrosion Testing
Long-term ASTM G109 testing performed by Al Futtaim Bodycote Materials Testing Services demonstrated sustained corrosion protection.
Concrete specimens containing TPS XV continued to exhibit no measurable corrosion current throughout the evaluation period, while untreated control specimens developed increasing corrosion activity. Based on these results, the laboratory concluded that TPS XV can be used as a corrosion-resistant concrete admixture.
A Small Investment During Construction. A Major Return Over the Life of the Structure.
Once reinforced concrete is placed, corrosion protection becomes expensive.
Surface repairs.
Traffic disruptions.
Concrete removal.
Rebar replacement.
Coatings.
Cathodic protection.
Complete reconstruction.
TPS XV addresses the problem when it is least expensive—during batching.
The catalog notes that the admixture adds less than approximately 10% to the concrete mix cost while helping reduce future maintenance, repair, and replacement expenses through improved durability and corrosion resistance.
Build It Once. Protect It for Decades.
Every owner asks the same question:
"How can we make this structure last longer?"
The answer isn't waiting until corrosion appears.
The answer is preventing corrosion before it ever starts.
SURTREAT® TPS XV transforms ordinary reinforced concrete into a more durable, corrosion-resistant structure from Day One—protecting both the steel and the owner's investment for decades to come.
Call to Action
The most economical time to protect reinforced concrete is before the first truck arrives.
If you're designing or constructing bridges, parking structures, tunnels, marine facilities, industrial plants, or other critical infrastructure, contact SURTREAT Solutions to learn how TPS XV can help extend service life, reduce lifecycle costs, and provide permanent corrosion protection from the inside out.
Build for 50 years. Design for 100. Start with TPS XV.