What does lithium silicate do to concrete?
Lithium silicate is a chemical hardener applied to the concrete surface to improve its strength, durability, longevity, and abrasive resistance. The calcium silicate thus formed precipitates in pores and canals of concrete and consequently increases its surface strength along with other influential properties.
What is lithium densifier?
Crommelin® Lithium Densifier is a superior clear concrete surface densifier formulated to harden concrete surfaces, increase abrasion resistance and reduce dusting. The penetrating lithium silicate formula reacts with the concrete to produce insoluble calcium silicate hydrate within the concrete pores.
What is in concrete Densifier?
Densifiers are used on non-polished concrete mainly to reduce dusting and improve stain resistance. They contain an active substituent or carrying agent alkali or alkaline earth metal silicate, such as lithium, sodium, magnesium or potassium silicate, with lithium silicate being preferred.
Is lithium silicate hazardous?
May cause an allergic skin reaction, skin irritation, serious eye irritation. Acute toxicity Causes skin irritation and serious eye irritation.
Is lithium silicate toxic?
Acute toxicity Ingestion Lithium compounds may damage the central nervous system. A large dose may have the following effects: headache, nausea, dizziness, convulsions, kidney damage.
Is concrete Densifier a sealer?
Concrete densifiers are silicate sealers of a sodium, potassium or lithium carrier designed to densify, harden, dustproof and increase the abrasion resistance of concrete.
How does lithium densifier work?
Crommelin Lithium Densifier is a superior clear concrete surface densifier formulated to harden concrete surfaces, increase abrasion resistance and reduce dusting. The penetrating lithium silicate formula reacts with the concrete to produce insoluble calcium silicate hydrate within the concrete pores.
Why does concrete densify?
Densified polished concrete provides a much harder, and shiner surface that requires lots of resistance to most stains and water damage. Concrete densifiers will help the density of the surface to increase and will prevent micro chunks from being dislodged while polishing the surface.
How do I seal concrete?
Here’s a step-by-step summary of how to seal concrete:
- Remove all oil, grease, stains, dirt, and dust from the concrete.
- Strip any existing sealer from the surface.
- Open up the concrete with an etching solution.
- Apply a thin coat of sealer using a roller or sprayer.
- Wait for the first layer of sealer to dry.
What is lithium silicate used for?
Lithium Silicates are preferred to sodium and potassium silicates for many applications, including concrete surface treatments, specialty paints and coatings, welding rod binders, refractory, ceramics, and glazes.
What is the formula of silicate?
Silicate minerals containing chains are termed inosilicates. In single chains (SiO32−)n, the silicon to oxygen ratio is 1:3, while in double chains (Si4O116−)n, the silicon to oxygen ratio is 4:11. The formula of silicate sheet is (Si2O52−)n.
When to use a lithium silicate densifier in concrete?
A pump-up sprayer is used to apply a lithium silicate densifier to a newly poured concrete floor. Normally when calcium hydroxide comes to the surface of fresh concrete, it reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide, producing carbonation (calcium carbonate). The reaction is greater when the concrete humidity is high and when bleeding is prolonged.
What kind of densifier is used for concrete flooring?
It also is considerably more alkaline, raising the pH of the surface concrete and reducing the possibility of alkali silica reaction (ASR). This decorative concrete floor was created first by treatment with a lithium silicate densifier, and polishing in stages to a 3000-grit finish.
What is the function of lithium in silicate?
The function of the sodium, potassium, or lithium part of the silicate’s function only is to stabilize and solubilize the silicate so it can remain in solution until it penetrates the concrete and then can react with the abundant calcium hydroxide found in the concrete.
What’s the difference between sodium and lithium in concrete?
If applied excessively it must be removed before it crystallizes, just like other silicates. The higher reactivity of lithium compared to sodium also means you don’t have to scrub it into concrete to encourage the reaction. The concentration of sodium densifiers must be higher than lithium to achieve the same effect.