How strong and durable concrete structures will be may be affected by the quality and degree of waterproofing before construction begins. Only well-selected waterproofing systems are capable of eliminating substances that will be destructive in the structure of the material. They extend the life of the concrete structure and reduce the cost of restoration, as well as maintenance.
Need for protection
Concrete protection against destruction on the street is necessary because the described material, although very durable, is constantly exposed to destructive factors during operation, including precipitation, chemicals, and industrial gases.
Sometimes concrete is constantly in contact with water, to protect it, in this case, materials are used that provide high waterproofing and resistance to chemical and abrasive loads. In this case, we are talking about concrete tanks, in which the depth of corrosion can reach 50 cm. If you do not protect the material, then over time it can simply turn into dust.
Varieties of materials for protection
To protect concrete on the street, materials are used that exclude moisture, corrosion, and also increase strength. This is possible with hydrophobizing substances, which are applied by impregnation. This allows you to reduce the wetting angle, because the concrete is protected by a silicon-containing composition. The advantage of this approach is durability and water tightness as well as durability. Such substances are enamels that, under the influence of alkalis, become soluble and lose hydrophobic properties.
Protection of concrete from destruction can be carried out with a waterproof film. A layer of various resins, for example, polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane, is formed on the surface. The disadvantage of this method is the low vapor permeability.
If the coating is exposed to steam for a long time, it will delaminate and break. In order to eliminate these disadvantages, the protective layer and the impregnation should be combined, however, the composition should be created on the same basis. It is important to use an alkali-resistant film, while the protective layer must have increased vapor permeability.
Destruction protection
Considering the means for protecting concrete, you should highlight ways that would eliminate the destruction of the material. Such protective agents include antifungal and antiseptic, as well as paints and varnishes. You can protect the structure from destruction by applying a corrosion-resistant coating, insulation and impregnation.
Corrosion protection
The development of corrosion occurs due to the porosity of concrete. This suggests that it is important to limit the design from contact with moisture and to eliminate the effects of rainfall. If this cannot be avoided, then concrete should be made with increased density so that the structure is devoid of pores.
Sometimes a protective coating with hydrophobic characteristics is applied to the material. Water-proofing of concrete against water is the best way to prevent corrosion. The material will repel water and preserve the porosity of the structure, and the structure can be operated at a wide temperature range ranging from -40 to +50 ° C.
Hydrophobization for corrosion protection is carried out in several stages. Additives are added to the cement, increasing density and regulating porosity. At the next stage, antifungal materials are used, as they are impregnations to seal the structure. Paint and varnish materials are used to exclude the effects of moisture. In order to prevent corrosion, carbon fiber tapes should be used. They are excellent for those areas where the metal component of the structure has rusted.
Moisture protection
Concrete protection was previously carried out using dry cement mixtures, synthetic sheets and gaskets, as well as roofing material. This is not enough to fully protect against water. To solve the problem, the concrete surface must be treated with a liquid with water-repellent abilities. The coating will fill cracks and pores, provide durability and reliable protection.
Protection of concrete from moisture is carried out according to a certain algorithm. At its first stage, the finished dry layer must be protected with a sheet of roofing material or waterproof building material. Using bitumen emulsion, the seams between the sheets are processed. A water-repellent coating, paint or varnish is applied from above.
Using Anchor Sheet
To protect concrete today, a polymer sheet is increasingly used, which is staggered on the surface. It is made of high density polyethylene, denoted by the acronym HDPE. Concrete protection sheet is used for monolithic and precast concrete objects. Its fastening has a large number of fixation points, which provides reliable connection or adhesion to concrete or mortar.
The shape of the anchors is formed by extrusion during production, which guarantees high fastening strength. Even with strong fluctuations in temperature and pressure, the optimal stress distribution ensures the preservation of the structure of the material, because the impact force can be caused by groundwater. Anchor sheet for concrete protection solves many problems. It creates a barrier to damage to the material by abrasive particles and chemicals.
The layer acts as an infiltrate, eliminates corrosion of concrete and protects the material from mechanical damage that can be caused by moisture, vibration of the soil, as well as exposure to plant roots. Anchor sheet can be installed on the surface during new construction or for the rehabilitation of existing structures. Reconstruction of finished structures eliminates corrosive wear and restores lost bearing capacity. The polymer sheet compensates for abrasive wear and eliminates further damage.
Anchor sheet installation
If you plan to protect concrete with an anchor sheet, you must familiarize yourself with the features of its installation. At the first stage, the material is cut in size and shape of the surface to be protected. The canvas is mounted indented from the edge on a removable formwork or by induction welding using mounting discs.
Concrete mixture is poured into the space between the polymer sheet and the surface to be protected, which allows monolithic anchoring. By extrusion welding, the joints between the anchor sheets are welded. The resulting seam has 97% strength of the base material and helps to create an airtight shell.
Using the composition of VVM-M
If you are thinking about how to cover concrete on the street for protection, then as an example you can consider the composition of the brand VVM-M. The substance is applied by air spray, and brushes and rollers are used to impregnate the surface. The coating thickness and the depth of impregnation are adjusted by the distance of the sprayer from the surface to be treated.
When choosing a spray gun, you should prefer a device that is capable of delivering 2 atm. It is necessary to move away from the concrete base by 30-50 cm. The recommended coating thickness reaches 100 microns. If you plan to impregnate concrete, then the thickness of the applied layer is 3 cm. Before forming each subsequent layer, you do not need to wait for the previous one to dry. The described materials are made from domestic polymers, and are inexpensive, because the basis is non-deficient raw materials.
Foundation protection
If you faced the need to protect concrete at the base of the foundation of the house, then you can use the coating of the side surfaces with waste machine oil and plastic film. The base can be protected by a layer of soil laid along the perimeter. Additionally, you can use polystyrene, expanded clay or slag. This allows you to reduce the depth of freezing of the soil and eliminate or reduce the impact of negative factors on concrete.
Comprehensive protection against aggressive effects and moisture
In order to achieve a better effect, you can resort to the use of several technologies. For this, primary protection is used, in which the mixing of the cement mortar is accompanied by the addition of chemical modifiers and additives.
Sulfate substances should be used to block cracks, they help against corrosion and provide strength and durability. Secondary protection is the application of mastics, impregnations, solutions and biocides. An additional measure will be a protective finish, which involves applying plaster, installing a layer of thermal insulation and installing ventilated facades.
Finally
Concrete is a very strong material, which is famous for its durability, but it is based on many pores through which moisture inevitably penetrates. When it freezes and crystallizes, it begins to increase in volumes, which negatively affects the integrity of the material. But such an impact is not the only one that can destroy concrete.
To prevent dusting and further loss of strength, it is necessary to protect the structure by adding special substances to the composition of the solution that reduce porosity. At the stage of operation, the surface can be protected with mastics and impregnations, which create a kind of barrier to moisture.