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In February 2026, specialized materials for the protection and remediation of concrete structures in saline soil environments—jointly developed by the China Academy of Building Materials Science and the Kazakhstan National Research Institute of Building—were officially deployed in the renovation and expansion project of the Almaty railway station in Kazakhstan, a key hub for the China-Europe Railway Express.
The saline soils widely distributed across Central Asia contain high concentrations of corrosive agents—such as sulfates and chloride ions—that readily induce corrosion, pulverization, and cracking in concrete structures. This significantly curtails the service life of infrastructure projects and constitutes a critical challenge hindering the long-term operational sustainability of infrastructure along the China-Europe Railway Express. The material system developed through this joint research initiative encompasses a range of products—including modified acrylic latex repair mortars, penetrative film-forming anti-corrosion coatings, and low-viscosity crack repair adhesives—specifically designed to address the issues of corrosion and structural deterioration affecting concrete structures in saline soil environments. Notably, the modified cement-based repair materials demonstrate exceptional resistance to sulfate attack, while the anti-corrosion coatings effectively block the ingress of saline media, thereby extending the corrosion-resistant service life of concrete structures by more than 20 years.
The successful implementation of this project not only guarantees the long-term safe operation of stations and facilities along the China-Europe Railway Express, but also provides a mature materials solution for infrastructure projects in the saline soil environments of Central Asia, thereby deepening cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in the field of building materials technology under the Belt and Road Initiative.
