Cures , Sealers
Densifiers & Crystal
Technology
Ultimate / Proven
Concrete Protection
IF USED
CORRECTELY AND
IN THE RIGHT
PLACES
What is a Curing Membrane?
• Aids in the development of the designed strength– Retains water in the concrete to promote proper
cement hydration
• Helps minimize unwanted cracking – Surface Cracking
– Shrinkage Cracking
• Minimizes discoloration – Minimize water carrying impurities to the surface
• Provides a barrier to minimize early stages of carbonation – Reduces or Eliminates Carbon dioxide infiltration
What is a Acrylic Sealer?
• Protects against contamination
– Film forming layer on surface
• Protect against abrasion
– Protection layer on the surface
• Protect against chemical attack
– Chemical resistant resins
• Visually enhances the substrate
– Reflects light
• Increase slip resistance
– With slip resistant additives
Water-borne Cures
and Sealers
Water-borne Cures and Sealers
• Water, solvent and solids
(acrylic, urethane, epoxy)
– Solvent = 1%-10% of the total weight
• High level of surface tension
– More difficult to penetrate tight surfaces
• Temperature and moisture sensitive
– Ambient, material and surface
• Multiple thin applications required
How do they work?
Water
Co-Solvent Acrylic
Main Components
Water-Borne Materials
Evaporation
Slow Evaporation
Water Co-Solvent Acrylic
Water-Borne Materials
Evaporation
Co-Solvent amount becomes greater than the Water and starts to
dissolve the Acrylic
Water Co-Solvent Acrylic
Water-Borne Materials
Evaporation
The Co-Solvent dissolves the Acrylic to produce an emulsion (liquid)
Water Co-Solvent Acrylic Emulsion
Water-Borne Materials
Water Evaporation
CONCRETE
Water-Borne Materials
Co-Solvent Evaporation
CONCRETE
Water-Borne Sealers
All of the Co-Solvent has evaporated
and a film has been developed
CONCRETE
Acrylic Film
Solvent-borne Cures
and Sealers
What are VOC’s?
• A. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)
– a. Used to dissolve the acrylic/urethane
– b. Laws do not only relate to manufacturers
but Specifiers and Contractors are held
accountable if caught using non-approved
products
• Measured in grams per liter
• Density of the Solids compared to the
density of the solvent
Volatile Organic Content
• California
– 2005 VOC limit 250 grams/liter
– Current VOC limit 100 grams/liter
• Not all solvents are equal
• Most equate VOC level to solvent-borne
only. Water-borne sealers have a
measurable solvent content.
Volatile Organic Content• Exempt Solvents
– Acetone
• Flash point -1 F
– Oxsol 100
• Flash Pint 109°F
– Tertiary Butyl Acetate
• Flash point of 40 F
• Not approved (non-exempt) in CA but can be used
on the East Coast (New England States, PA, OH)
Solvent-borne Cures and Sealers
• Solvent and solids
(acrylic, epoxy or urethane)
– Solvent – 40% - 75% of weight
• Lower level of surface tension
– Easier to penetrate a tight surface
• Less temperature and moisture
sensitive
– Ambient, material and surface
• Multiple thin applications for best
performance
Solvent-Borne Materials
Main Components
Solvent Acrylic
Solvent-Borne Materials
The solvent dissolves the Acrylic
Solvent Acrylic
Solvent-Borne Materials
Solvent Acrylic/Solvent Emulsion
Solvent-Borne Materials
Solvent Evaporation
CONCRETE
Acrylic Emulsion
Solvent-Borne Materials
All of the Solvent has evaporated
and a film has developed
CONCRETE
Acrylic Film
Clear Acrylic Sealers
• Are Both Water and Solvent-borne
• Offers a level of protection
• Enhances color
– Water-borne provides a more natural appearance
– Solvent-borne provides a deeper color reflection
Where to Use
• Cure and Seal
• Integral Color and conventional concrete
• Imprinted, broom, swirl, and float finish
• Streetscapes, driveways, sidewalks and
interior floors
• Interior floors must be maintained
Liquid Chemical
Concrete Hardeners
Liquid Chemical Hardeners
• Reacts with chemicals in the concrete
• Develops a crystalline gel that fills the concrete pores
• Chemical Types– Sodium
– Potassium
– Lithium
– Magnesium Fluorosilicate
Silicates vs. Siliconates
• Silicates need to penetrate into the substrate to chemically react and then harden
• Siliconates need to be exposedto the atmosphere to react with carbon dioxide to develop a silicone resin
Where to Use
• Interior or exterior concrete
• Increased abrasion resistance
• Potential dusting issues
• Warehouses, lobbies, schools, churches
• Integral Colored, Dry Shake Color
Hardeners
• Ground and polished surfaces
Ground and Polished Concrete
• Reduce diamond wear
– Apply prior to using resin bond diamonds
• Develop shine sooner
– Increased hardness will minimize unwanted
scratch pattern
• Increase surface density
– Minimize liquids from penetrating / Dyes
• Increase surface durability and retain
shine longer
Penetrating Sealers
Penetrating Sealers
• Silanes & Siloxanes
• Penetrating – invisible
• No color enhancement
• Water-borne ( with co-solvent)
• Water and/or oil repellant
• Roller or pump sprayer
Basics of How they Work• Increase surface tension of the concrete
pores
• Water will bead on the surface
• Allows vapor to transmit through
• Lower cost protection
• Need to be re-applied
• Visually non-existent
• Non-film forming
– Will not increase abrasion resistance
Treated Untreated
Where to Use
• Water and oil protection
• Parking lots
• Masonry
• Vertical or horizontal applications
• Bridges
Advanced / Penetrating
Crystalline Products
(Growth Crystals)
Crystalline Products (Growth
Crystals)• Interior or exterior
• Outstanding long lasting protection
• Superior interior vapor mitigation
• Superior exterior protection against salt,
mag. DOT de-ice brines.
• Broomed or hard troweled concrete
• NO VOC’s
Dubuque Bridge
Crystalline Products
(Growth Crystals)• Crystal Growth liquid applied products protect,
preserve and permanently waterproof concrete or
masonry substrates without any film formation or
color change to the substrate.
• Crystal Growth liquid applied products are odorless,
colorless, a clear water based liquid with very low
viscosity, allowing it to penetrate deeply into any
concrete or masonry substrate.
• Crystal Growth liquid applied products are a water
based product group which contain no VOCs.
Keosauqua Bridge Application
Application Over Waterways Without The Costly and Time Consuming Expense of Bridge Encapsulation
and Containment
West Des Moines Bridge
WDM Bridge Application
Crystalline Products
(Growth Crystals)
• Eliminates Moisture Transmission through the Concrete Matrix
• Protects:
– Concrete against Freeze-Thaw Spalling
– Steel from Corrosion
– Chemicals
• Reduces:
– Water Penetration from the Surface
– Surface Scaling
– Alkali Silica Reactions (ASR)
– Maintenance (due to enhanced moisture protection)
Concrete Parking Lots
Untreated / Treated
Permanent Protection
• Seals hairline cracks up to one 16th inches in width
• Seals inner surface of large cracks preventing water from causing further damage
• Increases the adhesion property of repairing materials to concrete in the repaired cracks
PROTECTION ZONE REPAIRED CRACK
Hygroscopic & Hydrophilic
Characteristics of Crystals
Dry Conditions Wet Conditions
EVAPORATION ABSORPTION
Crystals
Shrinkage
Hydrophilic
Crystals
Expansion
Hygroscopic
Crystals Growth Towards
Moisture
5/23/11
5/23/11
6/6/12
9/20/12
12/22/12
2/11/13
Common Sealer
Issues
Line Saver
Saw Cutting Contamination
Na or K Silicate
Sealer Whiting
WASH IT …..DON’T STRIP IT
Sealer Whiting
WATER VAPOR or CONTAMINATION
Poor Surface Preparation
General Rules During Selection
• Less maintenance on the floor, higher
durability factor for the sealer
• VOC Content
• Future Maintenance cost / Re-application?
• Moisture vapor & relative humidity
• Gloss level
• Cure time
General Rules During Selection
• General concrete use
• Cost
• Interior or Exterior
• Surface finish
• Contractor product knowledge
• Project timeline (certain products
cannot be pushed)
QUESTIONS?
Thank youMark Chew
Specialty Division Manager
Logan Contractor Supply
641-757-2555