Research on the Effect of Silane Impregnation on Freeze–Thaw Durability of Airport Concrete

The durability degradation of airport cement concrete pavements remains a critical concern in cold and severely cold regions. Even concrete that satisfies current durability standards often exhibits rapid performance deterioration after only a few years of service under harsh environmental conditions. This study investigates the effectiveness of a silane protective material in improving the freeze–thaw resistance of airport pavement concrete. Key durability indicators, including mass loss rate and relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, were evaluated. The experimental analysis focused on the performance enhancement provided by silane impregnation treatment under both multi-cycle freeze–thaw conditions and ultra-low-temperature (−30 °C) exposure, with particular emphasis on resistance to water freeze–thaw damage and deicing-fluid freeze–thaw corrosion. The results demonstrate that silane-impregnated specimens exhibited significantly reduced mass loss after 500 freeze–thaw cycles, along with an approximately 50% increase in flexural strength. Under ultra-low temperatures, the treatment effectively mitigated freeze–thaw deterioration, reducing deicing salt scaling by over 90%. Furthermore, the abrasion loss per unit area was reduced by approximately 68%. These findings indicate that silane impregnation enhances concrete durability from multiple perspectives—including frost resistance, salt–frost resistance, and wear resistance—by improving the pore structure and interfacial properties. Consequently, it represents a reliable technical solution for improving the long-term durability of airport concrete pavements.