One of the biggest building maintenance costs worldwide is the

repair of damaged concrete.

Concrete maintenance and repair work includes many procedures - from minor processes such as removing fungus growth by high pressure

cleaning to major crack repair and replacement of members.

These repairs cost governments, property owners and insurance

institutions millions of dollars each year.

The major underlying cause of concrete

deterioration is its inherent permeability

which allows ingress of harmful liquids

and gases.

STAND TUBE TESTING IN A LABORATORY DETERMINES DEGREE OF PERMEABILITY IN CONCRETE

Besides being amaintenance item, a coating only covers the real problem.

Numerous protective coatings for concrete have been developed over many years. These coatings, no matter how durable, all require

costly maintenance at some time.

In other words: The concrete underneath the coating is still permeable!

Let us examine the cause of impermeability in concrete.

Pores within concrete are principally in the cement “binder paste” which holds the various strengthening components (sand, aggregate and reinforcing steel) together.

Here is how the pores in the “binder paste” form.When water is added to cement powder, a chemical reaction takes place. This re-action is called hydrolysis and produces the cement“binder paste”. However,not all the water usedfor hydrolysis becomeschemically bound in the“binder paste”. Some escapes by evaporation - leaving interconnected poreswhich provide entrancechannels for debilitating liquids and gases!

Can concrete be treated with a deep

penetrating solution which will render it

impermeable?

and the unique

Yes it can! Introducing AQURON Solutions

colloidal silicate concept.

What is a colloidal silicate?Firstly, what is a colloid?

A colloid is a type of mixture of substances. Particles dispersed in the medium of a colloid mixture are minutely small – small enough to pass through a dialysis membrane but are larger than molecules. Blood is an example of a colloid.

Now - What is a silicate?

• Silicate is a mineral which is abundant on earth in the form of sand and is a major constituent of concrete.

• AQURON contains a precision blend of minute colloidal silicate particles which are dispersed in a specialised waterbased medium.

AQURON has an ability to penetrate deeply into concrete for a number of reasons:

– The dispersed particles are not only minuscule but are also spherical in shape.

– The waterbased dispersion medium contains friction reducing agents.

– The colloid particles are drawn towards moisture and alkali which are both always present in concrete to some degree.

How does AQURON colloidal silicate get inside concrete?

AQURON contains a catalyst which is designed to react with the ever-present alkaline hydroxides in concrete. This reaction transforms all moisture from zero solids to 100% solids in the form of a gel. This gel is the unique AQURON calcium silicate hydrogel which fills the internal interconnected pore spaces and provides a permanent integral seal.

What does AQURON do once it gets inside concrete?

AQURON not only seals the concretebut also densifies and strengthens it by filling the pore spaces with extrasilica. Silica is one of the most important strengthening components in concrete.

AQURON not only provides impermeability and strengthening but also provides:

– Curing.– Anti-dusting.– Abrasion resistance.– Protection against freeze/thaw damage.– Starvation of deep seated fungus growths.– Purging of chlorides and other contaminants.– Protection against chloride and sulphate attack.– Plus further benefits when used as an additive in

new concrete mixes.

Considering that AQURON is:

• cost effective to apply• never requires maintenance• and is also 100%

environmentally friendly

AQURON is an excellent treatment for concrete!

AQURON 2000 is applied to new or old concrete with spray equipment as long as the surface is clean and exposed.

How is AQURON applied to concrete?

AQURON 300 is an additive for new concrete which is easily incorporated during batching.

So what does this mean for me?

If you are a designer, developer or builder involved in a new project, you could use AQURON treatments to:

– Reduce construction time and costs by providing multiple benefits in one application.

– Reduce future maintenance costs by providing long term protection.

– Add significant quality and longevity.

– Arrest the deterioration.– Purge impurities and debilitating

substances from the concrete.– Provide cost effective protection.– Avert potentially huge future repair costs.

If you have an existing concrete structure which is showing signs of deterioration, AQURON could:

Here are some situations where AQURON treatment has

proved its worth.

Curing and durability

enhancement for a

warehouse floor.

Used as a part of a floor grinding and polishing process in a showroom.

Durability and sheen enhancement for a floor in a retail store.

Curing and water- proofing on a suspended open car parking deck.

Moisture proofing of concrete under floor coverings in a retail store.

Purging chlorides, repair and protection of marine structures.

Waterproofing, strengthening and workability enhancement for special-purpose concrete pours.

Concrete reservoirs

Walls, columns and façades

UndergroundBasements

Walkways andDriveways

Multi-level car parks

Civil structures

AQURON can purge contaminants from old concrete.

The possibilities for AQURON are almost endless.

The effectiveness of AQURON treatments for concrete has been proven worldwide since 1984.

For an information package and a free appraisal and advice on your project contact:• VIC & SA – Harvey Weeks (03) 5722 4234 • WA – Bruce Dartnall (08) 9455 1234 • QLD – Nelson Hiscock (07) 4153 6286• NSW – Roy Simpson (02) 4239 5999