By shot blasting the concrete we can remove any deteriorations, contaminants, and the latent layer of concrete while making the surface extremely course and porous.
WHAT DOES SHOT BLASTING DO TO A CONCRETE FLOOR?
Shot blasting systems use a high performance, airless, centrifugal wheel for propelling blast media at a high velocity, in a controlled pattern and direction.
A metal abrasive is thrown by a rapidly rotating blast wheel, accelerates towards the surface being prepared. The media strikes the surface and rebounds, along with removed contaminants, into a recovery chamber or separator. The dust collector removes pulverized abrasive, dust, and contaminants. Very little abrasive is lost and the usable media is returned to the storage hopper for recirculation by the blast wheel.
Deteriorations
Commonly caused by salt and chemical damage, these deteriorations are the areas known as spalls. When salt and moisture are present on your concrete, the slab naturally absorbs them and reacts causing an ion exchange. As this happens, the electrons in the concrete are changed into a water soluble carbonate. Now, as the moisture becomes present on the surface of the concrete, the carbonates begin to dissolve. This causes pitting and spalling to occur on your concrete slab.
Contaminations
Contaminations are oils, grease, gas, or anything that has penetrated into the surface of the concrete. By removing the latent layer of concrete, these areas are removed and treated. This leaves the surface clean and ready to coat. In areas that oil has penetrated deep into the concrete, we will use a degreaser to lift excess oil from the surface. As another precaution, our product has been formulated with an oil base. This eliminates the chance of inner coat adhesion failures by fusing with the oil that may be already present.
Latent Layer
This is the layer of concrete that forms on the surface of a curing slab. As the concrete is curing, the moisture that is present in the mix is driven upward as it evaporates. This causes the concrete to develop a “cream” or latent layer. This surface is about 1/16th of an inch thick, has minimal pores, and is the weakest layer of the concrete. By removing this layer, we are creating an extremely coarse and porous surface as well breaking into the sound structure of the slab.
Creating a Course and Porous Surface
By creating a course and porous surface we are giving the coatings a substrate condition that will result in an eternal bond. As the coating is applied to the open pores of floor, the nature of a polyurea is to draw itself to the lowest point possible. This displaces the air in the pores in exchange for the moisture in the slab. Now as the coating creates heat and cures, it gains adhesion by squeezing itself into the pores which makes an extreme fusion of the two surfaces.