Protective coatings for concrete: ways to protect the

Concrete, of course, is the most sought-after building material at the moment. But during operation, the wear of the structure is inevitable. Over time, surface damage appears, which can be avoided by using various protective equipment, which we will discuss in the article.

What "kills" concrete

Any cement slurry is subjected to a large number of factors that can adversely affect it, and a weakened structure can easily be taken not only by cutting the reinforced concrete with diamond circles.

It is necessary to determine the main of the negative factors:

• Low temperatureswhich lead to permanent changes in the structure of concrete.
• Water, moisture regardless of the contact time.
• Aggressive environment in the form of alkali, salt solutions, acids.

Note! The combined effect of negative factors has a particularly strong destructive effect. That is, permanent contact with water on the background of low temperatures, have a stronger deforming defect than just the summed effect of these two factors.

That is why the question is so acute how to protect concrete from frost and other negative impacts. It is also possible the appearance of deep hairline cracks. In structures based on concrete, cracks and faults appear that coincide with stress lines.

Ways to protect concrete structures

There are two main ways with which you can protect reinforced concrete structures and extend their lifespan so that even the most famous concrete defender of the harbor - these 8 letters are known to everyone, we are talking about a breakwater, easily resist under the influence of sea water.

So, there are two ways: the use of impregnation and the formation of a waterproof layer.

Impregnation for concrete

The first method is the use of special impregnating compositions. With all the variety available on the market, the task of these compositions is one, namely, the waterproofing of concrete.

During this process, two things are achieved:

• Blocking capillary effect.
• Reducing wetting angle.

To some extent, this allows you to protect the building material, besides, the work here can easily be done with your own hands. But this method has its drawbacks. The main disadvantage is the fact that although the wetting angle is reduced, the pores of the material do not close.

It should also not be forgotten that during the operation, the compositions cease to be insoluble in water and gradually transform into a silicate form and can no longer protect the material.

Waterproof layer

The second way to protect the concrete from destruction is the formation of a waterproof layer on the surface of the concrete with the subsequent formation of a protective film.

And there are some nuances:

• First, the main disadvantage of this method is the rather low vapor permeability of the compositions, which are used to create a protective layer.
• Secondly, over time, the layer is destroyed and leads to the gradual destruction of the protective coating.
• Thirdly, the method can be improved by combining the impregnation and the protective film, and this should be done on the basis of the same composition.
• And fourth, silicone enamels and varnishes can be used together with acrylates.

Note! In addition to the fact that these compounds reliably protect concrete, they increase its resistance to low temperatures and make it waterproof.

Foundation Protection

The foundation of any building is the foundation. In the light of the above, the question arises of how to protect the concrete foundation. The main thing is to make it waterproofing, as water is one of the most aggressive environments that can destroy any structure. And here you can offer two interesting options.

Between themselves, concrete protective flexible universal mats differ in size and shape of the blocks of which they are composed. Depending on the type of work on which these universal constructions will be used, the shape and size are selected.

In general, the blocks have a trapezoidal shape, but can be elongated and flat, symmetrical on one side, but pointed on the other. By themselves, they will not interfere with further work with concrete structures, for example, diamond drilling of holes in concrete, is quietly performed.

Before choosing one or another model of flexible mats, it is necessary to calculate the load that they will bear and the environmental conditions.

For example, if mats are installed at the bottom of a reservoir, then it is necessary to take into account the force of the current, the possibility of collision with objects that this current can bring.

The destructive power of water for the concrete itself, from which the mats are made, has been discussed above. But even with such difficult external conditions, if the instructions for installation and operation are fully complied with, the working life of concrete mats is about 50 years.

Street protection

The question remains of how to protect concrete in the street, for example, in the conditions of construction sites that are under the open sky. Here, the main aggressors, again, are water and low temperatures.

Especially dangerous is the freezing of water in concrete pores. To avoid this, it is necessary to use special impregnations that seal the concrete surface, which eliminates the direct contact of the building material with water. The price of such impregnations is small, but the return is very high.

It should not be forgotten that carbon dioxide acts negatively on concrete, which is released into the environment in large quantities, especially when it comes to cities. Impregnation protects the concrete from carbon dioxide corrosion, which can harm it even in the absence of additional loads.

Conclusion

Despite the external strength and strength of concrete structures and parts, they also need adequate protection. The video in this article will demonstrate how to properly conduct all protective measures.