Epoxy resin composition for underwater grouting

A method for repairing or reinforcing a pile or column, comprising

• a) optionally pretreating the pile or column by cleaning, sand-blasting, wet blasting, priming, and/or brushing;
• b) installing a sleeve around the pile or column covering damaged areas of the pile or column surface such that the sleeve circumscribes the pile or column leaving a gap between the surface of the pile or column and an inner surface of the sleeve;
• c) sealing the sleeve against the pile or column;
• d) introducing into the gap between the sleeve and the pile or column a curable epoxy resin composition for underwater grouting that is either
• (a) a composition containing at least one epoxy resin having on average more than one epoxide group per molecule, at least one inorganic filler, at least one hydraulic binder, and at least one polycarboxylate ether,
• wherein
• the inorganic filler comprises silica with an amount of between 45 and 65 wt. %, based on the total curable epoxy resin composition, and
• the amount of the polycarboxylate ether is between 0.01 and 0.03 wt. %, based on the total curable epoxy resin composition;
• or
• (b) a composition obtained by mixing a multi- or two-component system comprising a component K1 containing the at least one epoxy resin, and a curing agent component K2 containing at least one curing agent, wherein the at least one inorganic filler, the at least one hydraulic binder, and the at least one polycarboxylate ether are contained in the component K1, in the component K2, or in an additional component K3;
• and
• e) curing the curable epoxy resin composition.