UFC 3-270-04
15 March 2001
CHAPTER 2
SELECTION OF REPAIR MATERIALS
2.1. Description. A variety of concrete repair materials are available on the market today. A
properly designed, placed, and cured conventional portland cement concrete remains as one of
the most widely used and reliable patching materials for concrete pavements. It is most effective
for full-depth patches or complete slab replacement. A high density, very low slump, 0 to 1/2 inch
(0 to 13 millimeters) portland cement concrete or mortor patching mix, properly placed, thoroughly
compacted by tamping and thoroughly cured, has proved very successful for partial-depth
patches. The use of conventional portland cement concrete (PCC) in partial-depth patches has
given mixed results, some successful and many not. By using high early-strength cement
(Type III) and accelerators, concrete mixes can be produced that will allow traffic in 24 hours or
less. There is a wide variety of special products sold under proprietary names for patching
concrete. These include both organic and inorganic materials such as epoxies, methacrylates,
magnesium phosphate cements, and gypsum-based cements. Most of these products are sold
under trade names, and it is often difficult to identify the specific cementitious agent. All claims of
performance for these proprietary products should be treated with caution, and it is always
prudent to establish the performance of new products through trials prior to committing to the
purchase of large quantities. The selection and evaluation of specific patching materials is a
specialized topic and outside the scope of this handbook. Care should be taken to restrict use of
impervious materials (epoxies, etc.) in areas large enough to block vapor coming up from below
and trapping moisture which can freeze and debond the patch.
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