1、Why use ChemTec ONE concrete sealer on wear-resistant/cemented/concrete flooring?

　　  Wear-resistant flooring provides a more hardened surface than standard concrete and makes it less likely to accumulate dust, however it is still a mixture of high-strength cement and quartz sand, and is still a product of cement in nature, therefore it shares characteristics with other cemented materials. Drifting Calcium and Magnesium ions flow through capillary pores, causing dust to accumulate. Water evaporates after the hydration process, causing pores to form, making the concrete less condensed. These concrete/wear-resistant floors are usually at the peak of their strength approximately 28 days after installation, and their condition deteriorates under heavy vehicle traffic, especially in areas where forklifts and shovel loaders are operated. Therefore, such flooring will inevitably become scratched after 6 months of usage despite maintenance efforts, and accumulated wear will cause deformations to appear. ChemTec ONE concrete sealer shrinks the capillary pores, and makes sure dusts are either forced out or sealed in. ChemTec ONE helps concrete stay condensed by shrinking the capillary pores, doubles triples the strength of the concrete surface, making it even stronger, more wear-resistant and dust-free.

         The commonly used epoxy primer is an acidic gel, and is meant to bond with the surface layer of the flooring. Concrete, on the other hand, is basic, and is made even more basic by a humid environment, therefore cohesiveness is easily lost under such condition, causing the surface layer to peel off. ASTMD3359 indicates that flooring treated with ChemTec ONE has a 17% stronger cohesive bond with epoxy. This is in part due to ChemTec ONE’s chemical reaction with basic concrete, neutralizing its base and making the surface layer neutral, and in part due to ChemTec ONE condensing concrete to such a degree that no water molecules may pass through, thus making it impossible for water to make its way up to the surface layer and cause peeling. At the same time, a strong structure can withstand more pressure, making epoxy last longer. ChemTec ONE also seals the concrete, making it possible to paint the concrete surface 7 days after its application, making projects less time-consuming.

Because of the atmospheric composition, ultraviolet radiation and hydration, exposed concrete usually starts to show signs of weathering and dusting 3 to 6 months after installation, and will start to produce dust, powder and fragments. In the micro-organic realm, bacteria grow within capillary pores, eroding steel reinforcements, causing concrete to crumble. ChemTec ONE chemically condenses concrete, and most of its chemical outcomes soak into the concrete, making it impossible for microorganisms to survive within. The ASTMG23 Weathering-resistant Test indicates that 10 years of exposure to natural lights, vaporized water and ultraviolet radiation has no adverse effect on ChemTec ONE. It prevents the concrete from weathering, prolonging its service life.

　　2、What makes ChemTec ONE different from concrete sealers and penetrants made in China?

　　  In terms of hardeners for cemented and concrete flooring, different producers offer various compositions, however most of these hardeners contain inorganic compounds. These compounds go through a series of complex reactions with calcium oxide found in concrete. Thanks to ChemTec ONE’s unique composition, it makes treated concrete floor more chemical-resistant, and makes it more visually pleasing after polishing. Sealers and penetrants made in China often have resin and harmful solutions within their solution-based, membrane-like sealing layers. ChemTec ONE concrete sealer on the other hand, contains water-soluble inorganic compounds that are better suited under current environmental, sanitary and safety regulations. ChemTec ONE also penetrates down into the lower capillary pores, and the concrete surface is more efficiently strengthened as the penetration persists. Usually ChemTec ONE penetrates 5-8 mm into the treated concrete.

          Although Chinese penetrant and sealer manufacturers sometimes efer to their products as “sealing and hardened agents”, their products treat only the surface of the treated concrete, which is like applying an organic membrane on top of the concrete, and does not in fact involve penetrating into the concrete and forming a protective layer through chemical reactions. These membranes have the downside of being easily worn out in areas with heavy traffic. Not only is the vulnerability of the protective layer itself concerning, any area unprotected by this protective layer is susceptible to damages dONE by chemicals and corrosive matters. ChemTec ONE not only protects the surface layer of the concrete, but also protect penetrated concrete underneath. It will not be scratched out, torn down, or be riddled with tire tracks, and there is no need to re-apply a membrane.

　　3、Will ChemTec ONE make treated flooring slippery, since we normally associate shiny floors with less friction?

　　Under normal circumstances, frequent traffic will wear out and damage the concrete floor, however the same does not apply to ChemTec ONE treated concrete. The ChemTec ONE hardened surface will remain rough no matter what kind of surface it is. As the surface remains under usage, there will start to be a fine shine to it, which does not mean that said surface will become slippery. A concrete surface will look the same before and after ChemTec ONE treatment (with the exception of having an additional surface seal). It will simply become hardened, dust-proof, and if the surface was reflective prior to treatment, it will now remain permanently reflective.

        Experts in the matter, especially engineers, would like to know the coefficient of friction of a ChemTec ONE treated surface. An ASTM test was performed by placing the object being tested on a 50-pound stone base, then the object is pulled until there is sufficient force to move it. A coefficient of friction can then be calculated by using the amount of force applied. A smaller number in coefficient of friction indicates a more slippery surface.

        ASTM test results indicate that a stand floor surface has a coefficient of friction of 71 when dry and 47 when wet. ChemTec ONE treated surfaces have a coefficient of friction of 86 when dry and 69 when wet, providing significantly more friction than standard flooring. Thus we can prove that ChemTec ONE does not make the floor slippery.

　 4、Can ChemTec ONE treat a floor with a rough surface?

　　Many concrete surfaces, especially roads and parking lots, are constructed by using hard brushes or edged rollers, while many industrial flooring surfaced are polished using electric polishers. Regardless of the methods involved, ChemTec ONE works well.

        If treating a parking lot using ChemTec ONE, a lower coverage ratio should be applied. The usual 18 square meters/gallon coverage ratio should be lowered to 15 square meters/gallon. If treating a large surface area that is less dense. Know that a rough surface means more pores compared to more densely-polished ones, and therefore calls for more ChemTec ONE to properly seal and harden.

        However, ChemTec ONE works the same chemically no matter how smooth or rough a concrete surface is. ChemTec ONE penetrates into the concrete and reacts with it, causing gelatin to fill capillary holes, making concrete more dense. A rough surface calls for a larger volume of ChemTec ONE, however the results are guaranteed as long as enough is applied.

        ChemTec ONE is proven effective on parking lots hundreds of square meters large. Just like on industrial flooring, ChemTec ONE makes rough surfaces hardened, dust-proof and more durable. The only difference is that ChemTec ONE treated rough concrete surfaces will not shine like the industrial flooring surfaces.

　　5、Can ChemTec ONE be used to treat new and worn-out terrazzo?

　　Traditional terrazzo has the advantage of being low-cost, easy to install and easy to mix-and-match different colors and patterns. However, terrazzo flooring done using traditional methods will wear out, become rough, stained, weathered and dull in 3 to 5 years. If not properly protected, newly-installed surfaces can become stained even before project completion, making routine maintenance and cleaning even more troublesome.

        In China, the most commonly used method to restore worn-out terrazzo right now is to wax it after thorough cleaning. However this can only serve to delay the weathering and corrosion of newly-installed terrazzo and protect it to a degree. For already worn-out surfaces, doing so will never bring back its former glory. Beyond that, wax does not stay on the flooring very long, and usually requires weekly waxing. Washing and waxing is a method adopted by cleaning agencies only in lack of a proper solution, and is not a solution in itself.

        Washing and waxing does not qualify as actual terrazzo flooring treatment, because this method fails to address the technical properties that made terrazzo maintenance a problem. Terrazzo is reflective because there is a glass-like membrane on its surface as a result of machining. This membrane not only reflects light, but also is transparent enough to let people see the inner structural patterns of terrazzo, making the floor visually pleasing. To restore weathered and eroded terrazzo to its original beauty, the key is to re-apply this glassy membrane.

        ChemTec ONE can be used in treating terrazzo. This is done by ripping out the weathered and eroded part on the surface of the terrazzo floor, then apply ChemTec ONE to the exposed fresh surface to restore the glassy membrane, making the terrazzo surface as decorative as new. The hardness of the terrazzo surface will leap from 4.0 to around 8.0 to 9.0 on Mohs Scale, becoming more durable. It will stay smooth and shiny for another 20 years without ever needing a waxing.

　　6、How are ChemTec ONE treated floors different from other, traditionally used floors?

　　There are a number of industrial flooring materials available for selection, and the absolute best flooring does not exist, as different industries have different requirements for their floors. Here are the most common flooring materials:

　　一、Epoxy Flooring

　　Epoxy flooring involves applying a layer of epoxy that can be 1 to 5 mm in thickness, to an already solidified cement floor, in order to form an enclosed organic protective layer. Being an organic material, epoxy gives this layer chemical resistance to water, oil, bases, acids, airborne salt and so on. It is also smooth and without cracks, thus very easy to clean and maintain. Epoxy flooring is a durable flooring widely used by modern industries, and is very often used in medicine, food (For the sake of sterility), electronics, chemical (For preventing static electric charge) and other industries. However epoxy has a few significant weaknesses:

        1. Hardness and durability - In terms of physical performance, organic matters are no match for inorganic materials, with the harder resins ranking at 2 to 3 on Mohs Scale. In places that are frequently traveled by heavy objects such as cars, forklifts and trolleys, such as workshops, parking lots and production facilities, epoxy floors are often severely scratched, causing spalling and detachment of outer layer to occur.

        2. Long-term durability - Organic materials are high molecular polymers. Molecular bonds will break under the effects of radiation, light and temperature in a normal environment. This is a process often referred to as “aging”. High quality epoxy floors can last for 5 to 8 years, while average ones last for about 3 years.

　　二、Wear-resistant Flooring

　　Hardened flooring refers to floors made by mixing construction aggregates such as silicon carbide into cement or concrete before they solidify. This hardened layer can be as thick as 3 to 10 mm. Due to the aggregates having a high hardness, hardened floors can be as hard as 6 to 7 on Mohs Scale. This leads to hardened floors being immune to being scratched by normal objects. Due to them being hard, durable, smooth and crack-free, they can be used not only in industrial structures, but also in auxiliary facilities such as warehouses, garages and squares. However, this type of flooring is made by adding aggregates into concrete, therefore it retains characteristics of cement products. After the water evaporates, there will be capillary pores left on its surface, causing adverse effects:

        1. Diffuse reflection causes hardened floors to be not very shiny, and these floors will not look pleasing without waxing and polishing.

        2. Hardened floors absorb dirty water and dust, which makes it difficult to create a sterile environment for production, making it unsuited for industries such as medicine production.

        3. Cement products weather as time goes by, causing dust and grains to fall off. These floors normally last for 5 to 8 years, with the less durable ones among them lasting only 2 to 3 years.

　　三、Terrazzo Flooring

　　Terrazzo is a type cement-based man-made stone material, with its advantages being its low cost, good overall performance and easily-controllable colors and shapes. It is widely used as flooring for public buildings and production workshops. However, due to wearing and stains, terrazzo surfaces weather, spall and become stained very quickly, losing its design features. The primary methods of maintaining terrazzo are daily cleaning, waxing and polishing, which are complicated and have high costs. This leads to terrazzo surfaces often being rough and aged, making terrazzo a rather low-end material and potentially hazardous to any effort in building a sanitized work environment.

　　四、Concrete-sealer-hardener-treated Flooring

　　Concrete sealer hardeners are a type of eco-friendly chemical construction materials used to mitigate the disadvantages that come with cement products. After using concrete sealer hardeners to treat a floor made of concrete, cement or terrazzo, it forms a protective layer on its surface which is 7-8 mm thick that lasts for over 30 years.

       Concrete sealer hardener treated flooring has the following properties:

       1. Highly reflective - It can have over 70 gloss units, which is higher than epoxy gel and on par with marble.

       2. Highly hardened - Its hardness measures at 8 to 9 on Mohs Scale.

       3. Penetration-resistant - It is not easily soaked by oil or water, and is resistant to weak acids and bases. It is also smooth and without cracks, making cleaning and maintenance very easy.

      4. Highly durable - It can remain in sue for over 30 years, with 20 years of quality ensured. This is a trait that other flooring materials cannot match.

      5. Widely applicable - It can be used to renew old flooring, which is something that epoxy flooring and wear-resistant flooring cannot be used for.