Study on corrosion resistance of hydrophobic early strength mortar containing calcium formate

Calcium formate has been used in concrete as an accelerator to promote cement hydration and obtain good early strength for the repair work of marine structural engineering. However, the use of calcium formate in concrete increases the risk of reinforcement corrosion and reduces the corrosion resistance of concrete. In this study, a new method of improving the corrosion resistance of mortar containing calcium formate has been proposed. It is found that mortar modified by stearic acid becomes hydrophobic, and the hydrophobicity is further improved after adding calcium formate. Mechanical property testing indicates that the fabricated mortar has better mechanical properties than the reference mortar. Moreover, the long-term effects of simulated seawater on the durability of the mortar were investigated. Compared to the reference mortar, the fabricated mortar exhibited better corrosion resistance. It is expected that the proposed method shows promise for future applications in the repair work of marine structural engineering.