Study of superhydrophobic concrete with integral superhydrophobicity and anti-corrosion property

Due to the natural hydrophilicity of concrete, steel reinforced concrete structure is vulnerable to be corroded by chloride ions in marine environment. Fabricating superhydrophobic concrete is a good measure to improve the water repellency of concrete and to prevent steel reinforced corrosion damage by chloride ions. Herein, STA solution was put into fresh mortar to prepare superhydrophobic concrete with good overall hydrophobicity and corrosion resistance. The results indicate that superhydrophobic concrete has stable hydrophobicity under different pH values. Compared with ordinary concrete, the water absorption rate of superhydrophobic concrete is reduced by 30%. Moreover, the ground powder of superhydrophobic concrete also shows hydrophobicity. Furthermore, superhydrophobic concrete has good anti-corrosion property even in the presence of micro cracks. Expectedly, the proposed environmentally-friendly method may have application value in increasing durability and anti-corrosion property of coastal concrete structures. •The prepared superhydrophobic concrete possessed good integral hydrophobicity.•Appropriate amount of stearic acid has a positive effect on the concrete mechanical properties.•The as-fabricated surface possessed good environmental stability under different pH values.•Superhydrophobic concrete has excellent anti-corrosion property even with micro cracks.