Concrete countertops are prone to staining and need a lot of maintenance. Sealants have come a long way from simple wax and acrylic sealants to most modern epoxy sealants. With the right sealant, you can have a stain-resistant, heat-resistant, scratch-resistant, Food Grade Concrete Sealereasy to clean, easy to maintain and smooth countertop.
Bare concrete is porous and vulnerable to staining and chemical attack. Liquids will penetrate the surface and carry stains into the concrete itself. Acidic substances like vinegar and lemon juice will dissolve the cement paste.
The characteristics of the sealing material that are important to customers are:
• Enhance the appearance of concrete without degrading the look or feel
• Non-porous
• Completely resists stains from food, oil and other household substances.
• Withstands heat from hot pots and pans
• Resists UV degradation and yellowing from sunlight
• Scratch proof
• Food Grade Concrete Sealer
• Cleans easily with common household cleaning products.
• Provide long-term protection without the need for frequent maintenance.
• Easy to repair and maintain
Sealing materials: Sealers fall into two groups, namely penetrating sealers and topical sealers.
Penetrating sealers come in the form of liquids that are applied to bare concrete, soaked in, and then once cleaned and dried, they are usually nearly invisible.
• densifiers are water-based chemicals that react with the cement paste in concrete. The reaction generates cementing agents that increase the resistance of the concrete surface and fill the pores. Cementing agents that are generated during hardening often serve to enhance color. Densifiers are often applied before repellents.
• repellents are a concrete treatment that changes the surface tension characteristics of the concrete so that liquids collect easily. They create a hydrophobic water shedding effect when applied to concrete.
topical sealants take full advantage of the sealants on the market listed below:
• wax it is the most basic sealant. Usually a high-quality floor wax that contains carnauba and beeswax is used, or just plain beeswax. Automotive paste wax should not be used for sealing due to the additives it contains.
• Acrylic Whether solvent based or water based, they are the next most basic and common concrete sealers. Acrylic sealants are easy to use, readily available, and relatively inexpensive. They are widely used to seal floors and driveways, and provide modest protection. Acrylics generally provide heat resistance but are UV resistant.
• Epoxy it is a two component chemical system and it is necessary to mix them to form the coating. The chemical reaction is irreversible and the end result is a very durable and very hard surface. Epoxies are expensive chemicals and a proper process must be followed to apply them. There are three basic types of epoxies: solvent-based, water-based, and 100% solids. They are key to a food grade concrete sealer. They are widely used in industrial kitchens.
• urethane they are the type of sealers that have many of the characteristics of Ideal Sealer. Some are one-part, and some are two-part. Urethane, in general, is stain and heat resistant, provides good UV resistance, is very tough, and scratch resistant. They provide a glossy finish as well.