×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Aluminum/Concrete Footing Chemical Reaction
2

Aluminum/Concrete Footing Chemical Reaction

Aluminum/Concrete Footing Chemical Reaction

(OP)
I'm installing an aluminum fence in concrete postholes.  The aluminum posts will be in direct contact with the concrete.  My sixth sense tells me there may be an adverse reaction between the concrete and aluminum.  Do I have valid reason for concern.

RE: Aluminum/Concrete Footing Chemical Reaction

Are you sure that this fence is aluminum?  The reason I ask is that aluminum fencing is wildly expensive and mostly only used by the DOT (in our area at any rate).

RE: Aluminum/Concrete Footing Chemical Reaction

bgpaddock....this is a common occurrence and yes, a reaction will occur if you do nothing to protect the aluminum.

One successful method to isolate the aluminum is to dip the posts in clear urethane coating.  Allow it to dry, then embed the post in concrete.  This will last for many years without problems.

You may also dip or coat the post with asphaltic material; however, the heavy bodied asphalt coating actually creates a space between the aluminum and concrete that can cause the post to loosen with time.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources