Concrete is a mixture of portland cement, aggregate (sand or rock), and water. Combining portland cement and water causes a chemical reaction called hydration that hardens the cement paste and binds … [Read more...] about What is concrete?
Densifiers
How is concrete formed?
Hydration produces calcium-silicate-hydrates (CSH) crystals that make concrete hard. Excess water in the mix eventually evaporates, leaving behind tiny pores where the water previously took up … [Read more...] about How is concrete formed?
What is densifying?
Densification is the process of permanently closing pores in the top layer of the slab. Silica added to concrete surface reacts with available calcium hydroxide and produce additional CSH crystals … [Read more...] about What is densifying?
Is there a difference in densifiers?
The biggest difference is the method by which silica is delivered to the calcium hydroxide. Originally, alkali-metal compounds called “silicates” were used: sodium, potassium, and more recently, … [Read more...] about Is there a difference in densifiers?
How is OmniSil Densifier different?
OmniSil Densifier is colloidal silica, not a silicate. It is refined nano-particles of highly pure silica suspended in solution. By contrast, silicates include stabilizing agents (sodium or … [Read more...] about How is OmniSil Densifier different?