Program Summary
Crafco’s SME-PS concrete durability enhancer, PoreShield, is topically applied to dry concrete to create a barrier in the pore network that prevents ingress of water and ions. Once applied, PoreShield is absorbed fully into the pore network and leaves no film or coating at the surface. Within the pores, PoreShield remains fluid and can adjust to small changes in the pore network over time. Made from hydrophobic material, the internal barrier that is created provides strong protection from water and the ions that water can carry into concrete. This protection is a highly effective, and lasting, method of protecting from salts (both sea salts and deicing salts), with a single application lasting 10+ years. PoreShield has also been shown to reduce chemical deterioration, such as Calcium Oxychloride formation, by over 90%.
Documents:
Program Application: SME-PS Concrete Durability Enhancer – ITD Application
Contact Info:
Paul Imbrock – PoreShield Product Manager
(623) 900-5426
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www.PoreShield.com
Detailed Description of Program
Describe your product/technology:
Crafco’s SME-PS concrete durability enhancer, PoreShield, is topically applied to dry concrete to create a barrier in the pore network that prevents absorption of water and ions. Originally developed to improve the durability of saw cut PCCP joints, PoreShield has been used on a wide variety of concrete including: bridges, pavements, precast components, buildings, patch materials, sidewalks, patios, and more. By protecting from within the pore network, and leaving no coating or film at the surface, PoreShield remains effective for 10+ years with a single application. The application process is simple, requiring no special training or PPE. Just apply PoreShield to dry concrete (horizontal, vertical, or overhead) and it will be absorbed into the pore network.
Why is it Innovative?
PoreShield takes a different approach to protecting concrete from water and ions. Rather than undergoing a chemical reaction to create a barrier on the surface of the concrete, PoreShield is itself absorbed fully into the concrete to create a hydrophobic barrier within the pore network. The combination of low surface tension (lower than water), allowing it to penetrate anywhere that water can be absorbed, viscosity (higher than water), and hydrophobicity provides a lasting barrier within the concrete that can’t be damaged or worn from the surface.
In addition to the innovative performance mechanism, PoreShield is part of a farm to infrastructure model. Derived from soybean oil, PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product, containing no hazardous material and certified to be over 90% biobased. At 43.3 g/L PoreShield is a low VOC product, easily meeting all national restrictions for VOCs. These factors mean PoreShield provides strong and lasting protection without compromising the health and safety of applicators or the surrounding environment.
What would a field demonstration entail?
A field demonstration of PoreShield consists of applying to a dry concrete (at a rate of 250 ft2 per gallon) in need of protection from water and ions. This concrete can be flatwork, vertical, or overhead. Once applied, Poreshield will be absorbed into the pores. In many cases this process takes only a couple of hours. On concrete of greater density (lower porosity) this process can take a bit longer, up to 6-8 hours for a high-performance concrete.
This field application will show the ease of application, as well as the benefits of a low VOC product containing no hazardous material. Days after application there will be no visual evidence of the PoreShield treatment, but if water is applied to both the treated and an untreated surface it is apparent that the treated section is not allowing the water to be absorbed. This can be validated, if desired, with cores and absorption testing.