How strong and durable concrete structures will be can be influenced by the quality and degree of waterproofing before construction begins. Only well-chosen waterproofing systems are capable of preventing substances from entering the structure of the material that will act destructively. They extend the life of the concrete structure and reduce restoration and maintenance costs.
Need for protection
Protection of concrete from destruction on the street is necessary for the reason that the described material, although it is very strong, is constantly exposed to destructive factors during operation, including precipitation, chemicals, and industrial gases.
Sometimes concrete is constantly in contact with water, in this case, materials are used to protect it, providing high waterproofing and resistance to chemical and abrasive loads. In this case, we are talking about concrete tanks, in which the depth of corrosion damage can reach50 cm. If the material is not protected, then over time it can simply turn into dust.
Varieties of protection materials
To protect concrete on the street, materials are used that exclude the effects of moisture, corrosion, and also increase strength. This is within the power of hydrophobizing substances, which are applied by impregnation. This allows you to reduce the contact angle, because the concrete is protected by a silicon-containing composition. The advantage of this approach is durability and water resistance, as well as strength. Such substances are represented by enamels, which, under the influence of alkalis, become soluble and lose their hydrophobic properties.
Protection of concrete from destruction can be done with a waterproof film. A layer of various resins is formed on the surface, for example, polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane. The disadvantage of this method is low vapor permeability.
If the coating is exposed to steam for a long time, it will delaminate and collapse. In order to eliminate these shortcomings, it is necessary to combine the protective layer and impregnation, however, the composition must be created on the same basis. It is important to use an alkali-resistant film, while the protective layer must have increased vapor permeability.
Protection against destruction
When considering means to protect concrete, you must identify ways that would prevent the destruction of the material. These remedies include antifungaland antiseptic, as well as paints and varnishes and impregnations. It is possible to protect the structure from destruction by applying an anti-corrosion 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 structure from contact with moisture and eliminate the effects of precipitation. 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 water-repellent characteristics is applied to the material. Protecting concrete from water by hydrophobing is the best option for preventing corrosion. The material will repel water and retain the porosity of the structure, and it will be possible to operate the structure in a wide temperature range from -40 to +50 °C.
Hydrophobization for anti-corrosion protection is performed in several stages. Additives are added to cement to increase density and regulate porosity. At the next stage, antifungal materials are used, they are impregnations to seal the structure. To exclude the effects of moisture, paints and varnishes are used. Carbon fiber bands should be used to prevent corrosion. They are great for areas where the metal component of the structure has rusted.
Moisture protection
Concrete protection used to be carried out using drycement mixtures, synthetic sheets and gaskets, as well as roofing felt. 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, providing 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 roofing material sheet or waterproof building material. With the help of bitumen emulsion, the seams between the sheets are processed. A water-repellent coating, paint or varnish is applied on top.
Use anchor sheet
To protect concrete today, a polymer sheet is increasingly used, which is located on the surface in a checkerboard pattern. It is made from high density polyethylene, abbreviated as HDPE. The concrete protection sheet is used for monolithic and prefabricated reinforced concrete objects. Its fastening has a large number of fixation points, which provides a 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 distribution of stresses ensures that the structure of the material is preserved, because the force of the impact can be caused by groundwater. Concrete protection anchor sheet solves many problems. It creates a barrier to material damage by abrasive particles andchemicals.
The layer acts as an infiltrate, eliminates corrosion of concrete and protects the material from mechanical damage that can be caused by moisture, soil vibration, and exposure to plant roots. The anchor sheet can be installed on the surface in new construction or for the rehabilitation of existing structures. Reconstruction of finished structures eliminates corrosive wear and restores the lost bearing capacity. Polymer sheet compensates for abrasive wear and prevents further breakage.
Installing the anchor sheet
If you plan to protect concrete with an anchor sheet, then you need to familiarize yourself with the features of its installation. At the first stage, the material is cut according to the size and shape of the protected surface. The canvas is fastened with an indent from the edge on a removable formwork or by induction welding using mounting disks.
A concrete mixture is poured into the space between the polymer sheet and the surface to be protected, which makes it possible to cast the anchor fasteners. With the help of extrusion welding, the joints between the anchor sheets are welded. The resulting seam has 97% base material strength and helps create an airtight shell.
Use of VVM-M composition
If you are thinking about how to cover concrete on the street for protection, then you can consider the composition of the VVM-M brand as an example. The substance is applied by air spray, and brushes and rollers are used to impregnate the surface. Coating thickness andthe depth of impregnation is adjusted by the distance of the sprayer from the treated surface.
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 they are based on non-deficient raw materials.
Foundation Protection
If you are faced with the need to protect the concrete at the base of the foundation of the house, then you can use the coating of the side surfaces with used machine oil and plastic wrap. The base can be protected by a layer of soil laid around the perimeter. Additionally, you can use foam, expanded clay or slag. This reduces the depth of soil freezing and eliminates or reduces the impact of negative factors on concrete.
Comprehensive protection against aggressive influences and moisture
In order to achieve the best effect, you can resort to using several technologies. For this, primary protection is used, in which the mixing of the cement slurry 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 consists in applying mastics, impregnations, solutions and biocides. An additional measure will be a protective finish, which involves the application of plaster, the installation of a layer of thermal insulation and the installation of hinged ventilated facades.
In conclusion
Concrete is a very strong material that is famous for its durability, but it has a lot of pores through which moisture inevitably penetrates. When it freezes and crystallizes, it begins to increase in volume, 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.
