Laboratory Overview

The Corrosion, Electrochemistry and Analysis Laboratory (CEAL) aims to understand and mitigate the effects of deicers/anti-icers on civil engineering materials and the environment. To this end, we will create an enjoyable environment to foster the growth of team members, to encourage innovative thinking, and to promote problem-driven, inter-disciplinary partnerships. We'll be recognized as a bridge between industry and academia.

Capability

The newly constructed laboratory has been equipped with an environmental chamber, ventilation hoods, a corrosion testing machine, potentiostats, advanced electrochemical systems, and modeling software applications. A multi-disciplinary team operates the lab and features a diverse combination of expertise including corrosion science and engineering, electrochemistry, polymer chemistry, environmental science, and civil engineering.

This laboratory has been and will continue to be used on projects to: 1) conduct accelerated chloride ingress tests, gravimetric and electrochemical corrosion tests, and electrochemical engineering experiments; 2) study environmentally friendly concretes and cement-based composites; 3) analyze the behavior and effectiveness of corrosion mitigation measures for highway bridges; and 4) research and develop polymers to mitigate the winter effects on concretes and asphalts.

Research Priorities

• Deicer impact on concretes, asphalts and plastics
• Deicer impact on the environment
• Accelerated test protocols
• Nanoscience and nanotechnology applied to corrosion and materials integrity in transportation
• Use of recycled materials for civil engineering
• Behavior and effectiveness of corrosion mitigation measures for highway systems in cold regions, e.g. electrochemical rehabilitation, coatings, penetrating sealers, and corrosion inhibitors

Partnerships

• U.S. DOT Research & Innovative Technology Administration
• State Departments of Transportation (CA, WA, CO, etc.)
• Pacific Northwest Snowfighters Association (BC, WA, ID, MT, OR, CO)
• Civil Engineering Department, MSU
• Image & Chemical Analysis Laboratory, MSU
• Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)
• NCHRP IDEA
• Transportation Research Board, National Academies
• School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, China
• CC Technologies Laboratories, Inc.
• Southwest Research Institute

Contact:
Xianming Shi, Ph.D.
xianming_s@coe.montana.edu
Office: (406) 994-6486
Lab: (406) 994-7053