Concrete Remediation Techniques

Concrete can last a long time but if it gets old and starts to deteriorate due to design, workmanship or materials – it can be costly.

Mechanical demolition has been the only way to get inside concrete but now epoxies and urethanes can be injected into cracks. This will repair concrete and maintain its properties.

Crack Injection

Crack injection, as the name implies, involves injecting epoxy resin into concrete cracks. The bond strength of fully cured epoxy is higher than the concrete tensile strength and therefore provides excellent crack sealing. Epoxy injection resins are formulated for various crack widths and viscosities, so it is important to use the appropriate formula for the crack you are trying to repair.

The first step is to install injection ports, short rigid-plastic tubes with a flat base that serve as handy entryways into the crack. These ports should be spaced approximately an inch apart for every inch of wall thickness. Apply a thin coat of paste-over material around the bottom of each port to seal it and help it adhere to the concrete surface.

Next, insert the epoxy cartridge into the first port and inject until material shows at the next higher port. Stopping injection prematurely may result in leaks of injected resin.

Lithium Silicate

Lithium silicate is a concrete densifier that offers the benefits of improved strength, durability, and resistance to moisture, chemicals, and surface abrasion. It is a low-VOC, environmentally friendly solution for concrete surface treatment.

When applied correctly, this chemical concrete hardener will penetrate deep into the concrete to produce calcium silicate hydrate in the pores of the slab. This will encapsulate the water that would otherwise seep into the concrete and cause damage, such as abrasion, freeze-thaw cycles, and alkali-silica reaction.

The best time to apply lithium silicate is when the concrete surface has a lower temperature and less humidity. Otherwise, it will evaporate before the concrete can absorb the chemical.

Lithium silicate is also less soluble than sodium and potassium alternatives, making it more environmentally friendly. It has a smaller molecular structure, which allows it to penetrate deeper into the concrete than other solutions. This makes it a superior choice for concrete floor treatment. It can be used on warehouse floors, industrial plants, storage silos, and more.

Polymer Cement

Polymer cement is an admixture that replaces some of the cement in concrete. The polymer is often an emulsion, which can be prepared on-site in liquid form, or it is supplied in redispersible powder form, ready to be added to concrete as needed.

The polymer acts as an additional binding material, replacing some of the Portland cement in a concrete mix. When properly mixed, the resulting concrete has higher properties than standard concrete and requires less energy to produce.

This type of repair also offers greater durability. Its low water permeability is achieved by the formation of a latex film, which blocks channels that allow moisture to move through the concrete.

Because of its superior durability, this type of repair is ideal for floor construction in frozen food factories, as well as concrete bridge deck overlays and repairs. It has excellent resistance to freeze thaw and chemical attacks. It is also used in machine construction as a vibration damping material.

Concrete Repair

Concrete is an excellent construction material that can be used for a wide range of projects. However, the material can be damaged by many factors including temperature changes and moisture exposure. In some cases, this damage can lead to structural failure and reduced service life. These problems can be resolved with concrete repair techniques.

A proper concrete repair technique requires a comprehensive evaluation of the damaged structure. The evaluation may include a review of the design and construction documents, an inspection of the condition of the existing concrete structure, determination of the causes of the deterioration or distress, and selection of suitable repair methods and materials.

Concrete repairs are best done as soon as possible after the damage occurs. This will allow the repair to bind with the existing concrete and reduce the likelihood of cracking or other damage in the future. It is also important to follow a curing regime that is compatible with the concrete repair material. For instance, some materials require extensive water curing while others need protection with no moisture exposure until the desired strength is achieved.



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