Designing metallic surfaces in contact with hardening fresh concrete: A review

Abstract

Concrete, a commonly used material in the construction industry, interacts with metallic surfaces such as formwork during pouring and reinforced bar during lifespan. Formworks are designed to minimize hardened concrete adherence in order to avoid wall defects after formwork removal. In opposite, reinforced bar designs aim at maximizing their adherence to concrete for optimizing the transmission of mechanical solicitations. The present review investigates the surface properties that govern bonding of freshly poured concrete onto metallic surfaces. Identifying the underlying mechanisms of adhesion highlighted the importance of substrate characteristics (roughness, composition), concrete curing and compaction), and interfacial additives (release agents, wetting). This paper addresses the basic requirements in designing a functional surface interacting with concrete and emphasizes today challenges.