Concrete is a very important structural material, due to its high strength and durability. Being naturally porous, concrete can absorb water and soluble salt easily, which is not at all good for the building. And apart from that, when steel bars are reinforced inside the concrete, their water-absorbing nature increases the chances of the steel getting corroded. Hence, it is essential to protect the concrete from different environmental factors. This would ensure that the concrete would continue with its functions efficiently over time.
The Importance Of Sealers
Concrete sealer is one of the best ways to protect the concrete and its functionality. The sealers act as water repellents, which reduces or repels the water and chloride penetration through the porous concrete layers. These are mostly found in those applications where concrete is frequently subjected to exposure to moisture, like in parking decks where thick film coatings cannot be applied.
The sealers can be of different types, but silicon-based materials are the most frequent ones. Also, thin-film coatings of the sealers are applied on applications wherein thick coatings are not desirable.
Which Sealers To Use?
Generally, the concrete sealers react with the inorganic concrete. This makes it difficult for the moistures to penetrate through the pores. The sealers might not be able to keep away any water that is under pressure from penetrating, but the water that is absorbed in such cases gets easily evaporated as the sealers are permeable to water vapor. Good quality sealers can last for several years, depending on several factors like the concrete surface, the overall environment, and its water repellent properties.
The silicon-based sealers are the most common ones as they can effectively resist oxidation and come with good thermal stability. They also have good heat resistance when compared to other typical organic compounds. They can also resist the UV rays of sunlight along with moisture, which is very important for giving proper protection to the concrete. There are other sealers that are based on organic resins, and they may penetrate concrete surfaces slightly. They generally form a thin layer on the surface of the concrete.
Application Of The Sealers
Apart from choosing the right sealer, it is also important to apply the sealer’s property to get its optimal function. The surface needs to be prepared properly by pressurized water cleaning and mechanical abrasion before the sealers are applied. Also, it is to be noted that the cleaning material should be compatible with the sealer that is to be used.
With successful applications, the sealants can effectively prevent water from getting absorbed into the concrete and this would increase its overall service life. It also efficiently protects the steel embedded inside the concrete surface.