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Sustainable anti-corrosion coating systems for steel bridges
A recent study evaluates the long-term sustainability of anticorrosion coating systems for steel bridges, considering performance, costs, and environmental as well as social impacts over a seventy-five-year service life.
Steel bridges are critical elements of transportation infrastructure and require durable corrosion protection. A recent study assesses four different anticorrosion coating systems with regard to their long-term sustainability, analysing performance, cost, and environmental impact over a hypothetical seventy-five-year bridge lifespan.
In addition to corrosion protection efficiency, the analysis considers coating service life, maintenance frequency, and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Social costs, such as traffic disruption and public inconvenience during maintenance activities, are also included. The evaluation covers different corrosivity categories in accordance with ISO standards (C2, C3, and C5).
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Life-cycle-based decision support
The findings highlight the importance of selecting low-VOC coating materials to reduce environmental impact. At the same time, the study demonstrates that sustainability assessments must go beyond environmental criteria alone. Maintenance requirements, protective performance, and societal effects are equally relevant factors in selecting suitable coating systems.
By providing detailed data sets, cost estimation equations, and a structured assessment methodology, the study offers practical guidance for stakeholders involved in bridge design, maintenance, and asset management. It supports informed decision-making for sustainable corrosion protection strategies under diverse environmental and societal conditions.
Source: Ebrahimi, N. et al., Toward sustainable steel bridge maintenance: anti-corrosion coating systems. J. Coat. Technol. Res. 22, 2293–2312 (2025).
