วันเสาร์ที่ 8 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2553

Cleaning Concrete With Muriatic Acid

Muriatic and hydrochloric acids are made from the same compounds with similar capabilities when it comes to cleaning concrete. Both come in liquid or gel form.

Concrete may be the most important commodity on earth and certainly is one of the most used. Without it we would still be living in tents and never would have evolved. Without concrete there would be no buildings or foundations for homes. But concrete is not without it's issues.

Concrete is porous and unless properly sealed is like a sponge. It absorbs moisture, dirt, oil, rust and whatever else is in our environment that is subject to gravity and lands on a concrete slab. Whatever settles onto concrete will permeate the airholes and capillaries. For example moisture from rain or even your lawn sprinkler will soak in and if it never dries will build up mold and algae that becomes slippery. Frequently steel is imbedded via rebar for added strength or railings, light fixtures, sign posts, all capable of producing rust stains and making a cement slab look terrible.

Cleaning concrete with muriatic or hydrochloric acid has been the most effective product for years. However using a liquid has always been a challenge. Liquid acids are usually diluted with water and sprayed on the surface pulling impurities out of a slab. This is an imperfect solution for a few reasons.

First concrete is never flat. It may look flat but will always have high and low spots. When spraying acid on the surface it will naturally gravitate to the low spots. The problem is that the low spots will get clean (and etched) while the high spots get minimal coverage. That adds substantial labor because the high spots need to be worked by hand.

Secondly liquid muriatic acids will pull impurities out of the concrete but will partially settle back into the pores before you have a chance to clean them away. It's an uphill, frustrating battle that just doesn't work. Gravity becomes the enemy.

In recent years gel technology has enabled acids to be contained in a gel, sort of like jello. This has finally solved the gravity problem. Gelled acids do not get diluted so you know exactly how much you are working with. They are simply rolled on the surface with a 3/8" - 1/2" nap roller. The gels don't run like a liquid and stay where they are applied. This means the high spots, low spots and everywhere in between get the exact same coverage. The acids at the interface of the concrete are active for about 15 minutes before they start to neutralize. Active acid is still on the top of the gel. Now the gels can be back rolled, activating unused acids at the interface of the surface. This is very efficient and cost effective, nothing is wasted.

The beauty of the gels is that they act like a carrier for the impurities that the muriatic acids pull out of the surface. Rust, mold, algae are captured in the gels and will not settle back into the surface. This is a very effective and efficient use of material and labor while producing an excellent, clean result.

Some gelled acids are blended without VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds). This means the chemical composition will break down with water and flush-able down a drain without impact on the environment. Gels can also be cleaned with a squeegee and disposed of in a container then neutralized with baking soda.

These unique features have enabled professionals to clean vertical surfaces of buildings, bridges, walls and stairs with total control. They also are widely used on walkways that have become slippery from mold buildup while etching the surface and creating a non-slip surface.

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