An ancient battle between environment and concrete

The collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in South Florida shocked the world. Many families lost loved ones or are still holding their breath. The question remains: what was the cause of this catastrophic failure? Cementitious materials — not least their reinforcements — are prone to aerobic oxidation, followed by chloride and sulfate attack. These processes jeopardize structures, particularly those exposed to air and seawater.