A Candid Evaluation: Advantages and Limitations

The Compelling Array of Advantages

Superior Efficiency: Offers much deeper penetration and more challenging, more resilient surfaces compared to older silicate technologies.

Durability: The chemical modification is irreversible, supplying a long life span.

Boosted Durability: Substantially raises resistance to abrasion, effect, and freeze-thaw cycles by lowering water access.

Prep work for Coatings: Develops an optimal, solid, and dust-free substratum for subsequent epoxy or polyurethane finishes, enhancing their adhesion and life expectancy.

Aesthetic Preservation: Being a passing-through sealant, it does not alter the natural appearance of the concrete; it can be used on revealed aggregate or refined surface areas without producing a shiny film.

Rapid Treating: Increases the treating process, enabling faster return-to-service times.

Recognizing the Practical Limitations

Higher Preliminary Cost: Lithium-based agents are more expensive than sodium or potassium silicates. Nonetheless, their superior efficiency typically results in a reduced lifecycle price.

Substratum Dependency: The reaction requires adequate cost-free lime. It is less reliable on old, carbonated, or low-quality concrete that has little reactive lime left.

Surface Blemishes: It is a sealer, not a filler. It will certainly not hide splits or imperfections; as a matter of fact, it might make them much more noticeable by dimming the concrete.

Application Problems: Requires appropriate surface area prep work (tidy, sound, and open-pored concrete) and can not be used on frozen or saturated surface areas.