Leve-Sil Hardener Densifier is available in two chemistries. You can
order it in Sodium based chemistry or a Lithium based chemistry. We
try to provide the best value of Hardener Densifier available to the
market. Leve-Sil is on average twice the solids of competitive
products as well as not containing any unwanted expanders such as
silicones. Silicones do not penetrate into the concrete and end up
leaving white patches on the surface of the floor. Our Densifier only
contains Sodium Silicate or Lithium Silicate. These hardeners react
with free Calcium Hydroxide present in the concrete to produce that
same molecule that concrete naturally forms to hold itself together,
Calcium Silicate Hydrate. There are no other volatile organic
chemicals VOC's or any other hazardous chemicals in Leve-Sil products.
This is the most green and least reactive product to have on your
floor. If you care about the job you do then you owe it to yourself to
use a product that will still be down protecting a few years later. We
can ship only the active chemical in condensed form so that you are
not paying to ship water. Or we can pre-mix it for you. Depending on
how you apply the hardener onto the concrete slab, you will have a
certain amount that will penetrate into the surface depending on how
dense the concrete is and if you apply enough water to suspend the
solution until it has worked its way down into the concrete surface
with a broom. You can either apply it as some spec's call for floating
the floor with a layer of hardener and water, working it until it has
reached full penetration and then vacuuming the excess off. Or you can
apply a layer of Hardener with water, work it with a broom and then
leave it overnight or longer for full effect. With Leve-Sil you start
with 20% solids so you are able to thin it out with water to aid
penetration or you can put it on neat to very soft concretes.
Why don't we sell Colloidal
Silica?....................... It is because it is fast reacting both
to put down and to disappear from the floor after the fact, simply by
washing of the floor. At best Colloidal Silica forms a jell in the
concrete, it is extremely reactive in this form, it has an average pore
size of 2.4 nanometers and has a strong affinity for water molecules.
While this does make them react quickly with the floor when putting
them down, it also stays in this form so that it will react with water
just a little slower than it did going down when mopping or auto
scrubbing. A little soap will speed this process even more. Some
retailers even recommend that you finish with a Lithium Silicate to
protect the Colloidal Silica from erosion. So unless you don't care
that the floor will rapidly fade to a dull look within weeks, you
would do your reputation and your customer a dis-service to use
Colloidal Silica for just a few minutes time gain.
Concrete Sealers.
Concrete Sealers come in varies chemistries and some are good for
outside use while others not so good for this purpose. Some sealers
can withstand UV radiation while others can't, UV radiation can yellow
some sealers or break the sealer down so that it disintegrates and
starts flaking off. This is the main reason for so many different
types of sealers along with of course their other properties such as
hardness and cost
Penetrating sealers are based on concrete hardener chemistry and work
by blocking the micro capillaries of the concrete with a crystal
structure that is precipitated by the forming of crystals around any
leftover calcium
hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in the concrete, to a depth dependant on
the permeability of the concrete itself. This blocks or reduces the
penetration of moisture into the slab and reduces other products such
as de-icing chemicals from entering the surface. These types of
sealers are mostly used outside to protect against the freeze thaw
cycle in winters and it has the benefit of leaving the concrete with a
matt natural looking finish. This type of sealer needs to be reapplied
every 2-3 years after a through washing of the slab. This is easy to
do and there is no appearance of flaking leading up to the
reapplication. Since concrete polishing has come into
vogue, these types of sealers have been used more and more to seal
concrete polished floors. They can be buffed to a high shine and
retain the moisture blocking properties as well as not sealing the
slab completely, they allow the floor to "breath" or release moisture
vapor from the slab itself. The benefit of this sealer indoors is that
it looks natural and does not scuff with foot traffic as coatings
would, thus decreasing maintenance.
Acrylics and polyurethane sealers
are coating based and therefore cover the surface of the slab with a
film of the product used. Polyurethanes are about twice as trick as
acrylics and therefore provide more protection against scuffs and
staining, although polyurethanes do not like moisture until fully cured
so the slab needs to be very dry when applying this product. Acrylics
are easier to apply and are usually touch dry in an hour, so this
product is best for the DIY user. Solvent based coatings tend to
perform better then water based formulations. Acrylics scuff and wear
the most, so a sacrificial coating or wax may need to be used to
offset this tendency but use of sacrificial coating usually increases
maintenance.
Epoxy coatings are used mostly indoors as they tend not to be very UV
stable and will yellow in sunlight. They usually come in a two part
mixture that is mixed just prior to application. Epoxies are the most
impermeable of all coatings, which can be good when you want a
complete block to penetration of the slab, but this feature will also
trap moisture in the floor which can force the coating from the slab
surface.
