MCI^®-2018 Pro Tip: Upgrade Your Concrete Water Repellent Game

January 27, 2026

What is the common enemy of reinforced concrete bridge decks, apartments, parking garages, and tunnels? Corrosion. Rusty rebar leads to cracking, spalling, and premature deterioration of concrete structures. While routine application of water repellents is a common preventative maintenance strategy to promote a longer service life, many contractors and facility managers do not realize they can achieve enhanced protection for the same (or less) effort by applying MCI^®-2018, a dual corrosion inhibiting water repellent.

MCI^®-2018 is a 100% silane water repellent enhanced with Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors. These inhibitors migrate through the concrete pore structure, adsorbing on metal surfaces to form a protective molecular layer. Unlike other water repellents that often need two to three applications with drying time in between, MCI^®-2018 only requires one or two coats, which can be applied wet on wet. MCI^®-2018 leaves the concrete breathable and does not alter surface appearance, making it a good option for historical restoration. It can be applied once every 10 years for routine preventative maintenance or used after repair work to help even out the difference in corrosion potential between the concrete patch and surrounding areas.

MCI^®-2018 V/O is a special vertical/overhead version of MCI^®-2018 for reduced sagging, dripping, and waste, promoting better overall application consistency on vertical or overhead surfaces such as building walls, bridge piers, and parking ramp beams. The newest formulation of MCI^®-2018 V/O offers improved viscosity, consistency, and stability for improved application success. 

MCI^®-2018 has a long history of use on a variety of structures in diverse environments:*

• Enhanced corrosion protection on concrete piers of the Pelješac Bridge, a seawater inlet crossing
• Preventative maintenance on a parking ramp exposed to salty ocean breezes in Palm Beach, Florida
• Fortified repair of a parking ramp subject to deicing salt corrosion
• Protection of restored brickwork on Medieval city walls in Southeastern Europe

The routine application of water repellents is an excellent opportunity to introduce enhanced corrosion protection into a structure’s preventative maintenance or repair plan. If you are looking for a new structural maintenance strategy that adds value to the effort invested, be sure to consider MCI^®-2018 as a value-added substitute for standard water repellents. Contact Cortec® to learn about the new, improved version of MCI^®-2018 V/O and get ready to upgrade your concrete water repellent game today.

*See Cortec^® Case Histories 746, 854, 787, and 822. Login required: https://www.corteccasehistories.com/.

Keywords: surface applied corrosion inhibitor, concrete water repellent, concrete corrosion protection, rusted rebar in concrete, Cortec, MCI, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitor, corrosion protection for rebar, preventative concrete maintenance, concrete maintenance tips

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