Concrete is a porous material and machine oil is made up of ingredients that can penetrate very deeply into porous surfaces... Therefore, oil stains are a complex type of stain. When choosing a method for their removal, it is necessary, first of all, to take into account the specifics of the composition of the oil and not forget about the features of the concrete surface from which contamination is to be removed.
By its composition, engine oil is a liquid binder. After hitting concrete, it almost instantly penetrates into its pores and leaves a greasy mark on the surface. It is also known that when exposed to concrete mineral oils a chemical reaction takes place between the weak acids contained in the oils and the cement stone. This causes an adsorptive decrease in the strength of the concrete. Under the most unfavorable conditions (high water-cement ratio, concrete structure with big amount microdefects, etc.) the strength of concrete may decrease by 70% from the original.
The surface of the concrete base must be free of oil stains, dust and dirt before applying any coating. This condition is especially important to observe when applying a polymer coating, since dust and dirt impede the adhesion of the polymer and concrete, which subsequently becomes the cause of the destruction of the self-leveling floor.
The absence of oil contamination of concrete is regulated by the requirements of SNiP 3.04.03-85
To remove oil stains from concrete, various mechanical methods and surface etching with special acid-based chemical compounds are used. Mechanical cleaning of the surface is carried out using diamond grinding wheels, cups, cutters.
For this cleaning method, equipment of various capacities is used. But it should be borne in mind that microcracks can form on the surface, which in some cases is highly undesirable.
Cleaning with chemical compositions has a number of advantages, due to which it is becoming increasingly popular. But when using this method, it is rather difficult to achieve uniform cleaning of the entire surface. In chemical cleaning, in addition to the compositions, hard metal brushes are also used, and upon completion of the work, the surface is thoroughly washed with water.
When choosing a cleaning method, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the properties and quality of the concrete surface, depending on the chosen method, will be different. For example, after milling, the tensile strength of concrete decreases significantly, and after sandblasting, it increases. The strength indicators will be even higher if wet sand is used to clean the concrete.
When cleaning a concrete surface from oil stains, several problems must be solved at the same time:
- carry out oil cleaning on time, avoiding old stains;
- dissolve greasy stains on the surface of concrete using special tools;
- wash off the remaining oil from the concrete;
- avoid damage to the concrete pavement in the process of removing oil stains.
Cleaning with chemicals
Try removing fresh oil stains with sorbents such as sand, sawdust, or caustic soda. The contamination should be covered with a thick layer of sand or other absorbent material and wait until this material has absorbed the oil. Then the sand must be carefully removed, and the concrete surface must be rinsed with water and detergent.
This method is quite effective, but with its help it will not be possible to remove the oil that has managed to be absorbed into the pores of the concrete. In addition, it makes sense to use it only in the very first minutes after the formation of the stain.
Really effective and quite economical for this moment is a way to remove oil stains from concrete surfaces using special compounds. Such formulations remove oil stains quickly and efficiently. They are used by industrial cleaning experts and cleaning companies.
Today, many leading manufacturers of industrial and household chemicals offer means for cleaning concrete of complex action, which consist of several active components, therefore, they are able to cope with stains of any intensity and size.
Among them there are non-toxic and universal compounds that are convenient to work with, both in domestic and industrial conditions. They effectively deal with both oil stains and tough dirt such as soot and carbon deposits..
Cleaning concrete from oil with industrial chemicals has a number of advantages. Because of this, it is gaining more and more popularity.
When choosing a product, the nature of the contamination should be taken into account, since the oil can be chemical and natural origin... Natural oil stains usually appear on the concrete floors of agricultural processors. And on roads, gas stations, in industrial workshops, stains arise from engine oil.
Machine oil is made according to special recipes. It contains an oil base made of oil or synthetic oil, as well as additives that enhance the properties of the oil. These ingredients are able to penetrate very deeply into porous surfaces, therefore it is quite difficult to clean concrete from machine oil, and especially if it is old stains.
Before using any chemical cleaner, it is very important to carefully study its composition and methods of exposure to concrete. With the wrong choice of means, there is a risk not only not to clean the concrete from stains, but to further worsen the situation - to change the color of the surface and then it will be really difficult to solve the problem.
When treating a concrete surface with a cleaning agent, for example, Docker Mazbit Turbo or Maxi DK-250, its active components penetrate into the pores of the material.
At the same time, one obtains deep cleaning contaminated surface from which oils and other petrochemical products, as well as soot, soot, dust and dirt are completely removed. In addition, pores are opened for subsequent processing of concrete with protective, waterproofing and other materials.
The alkaline base of the composition provides high-quality cleaning of concrete without any destruction... The spent composition is biodegradable and therefore does not require special disposal. It can simply be drained into the sewer.
Technology for removing oil stains using a chemical agent:
- the composition is applied directly to the stains using spray tools;
- a certain time is expected, which is usually indicated on the label;
- at the end of the specified time, the stained surface is washed with water and a foaming agent;
- the remains of the drug are removed with a stiff brush. If the stain cannot be removed completely at one time, repeat the treatment.
Mechanical methods of cleaning from oil
Mechanical cleaning methods for concrete and iron concrete structures can be used in almost all cases, regardless of the degree of destruction of concrete and materials used for repairs. The only exceptions are those cases where contamination is unacceptable. environment or dustiness of the room (floors in enterprises Food Industry, in workshops with high-precision equipment and other clean rooms).
It should be remembered that mechanical methods of cleaning concrete from oil will certainly remove part of the surface layer of the monolith
The most popular are such mechanical methods cleaning like:
- grinding and milling;
- sandblasting;
- water jet treatment.
Cleaning concrete by grinding
In the process of grinding, any dirt, as well as small cracks and chips, are removed from the concrete surface. After this procedure, a fresh and durable concrete layer is exposed with very high adhesion to various polymeric materials that are used to create topcoat.
Concrete, with its fragility, is a fairly strong material, therefore, for its grinding, a diamond-coated tool is now used, which is installed on mosaic grinders with powerful motors. Hand tools such as a grinder are not recommended for grinding concrete because it does not allow you to get an even and uniform result. Such equipment can only be useful for processing those places that are inaccessible to professional machines.
The choice of equipment depends primarily on the area of the treated surface. For grinding concrete floors in trading halls, factory floors, parking lots and other large facilities, use only twin-rotor helicopters or heavy grinders with planetary gear.
Ideally even coverage can be obtained only when the rotation of the tool is multidirectional. The size of the abrasive on the cutting segments of the grinding tool is of great importance. For the initial rough alignment, use a tool with a grain size of 25-40, and for final grinding- from 400.
There are two ways to grind concrete - dry and wet. Dry is a rather dusty process, but guarantees a fairly high quality of processing, since the processed plane is clearly visible, therefore, you can see and eliminate unprocessed areas in time. Dry grinding usually carried out using an industrial vacuum cleaner.
Wet grinding is used when it is necessary to "show" the structure of concrete, which contains mineral chips or mosaics. In the course of such processing, a lot of sludge is formed, therefore, during operation, special water pumps should be used.
Grinding is useless if the concrete surface has irregularities of more than 5 mm or deviations from the horizontal plane. To eliminate these defects, milling is used. Besides, this technology will be appropriate for heavy pollution concrete with fuels and lubricants. Milling allows you to increase the contact area and roughness of the concrete base, which has a positive effect on the adhesion of concrete and polymer materials.
Concrete milling technology involves the use of two types of machines: disc milling and mosaic-grinding. After removing a layer of contaminated concrete with a thickness of 3-5 mm with a milling machine, it is advisable to roughly grind the milled surface using a mosaic grinder. If it is necessary to remove a layer of the same thickness, repeat the milling and grinding operations.
Advantages of Diamond Grinding Tool
Diamond tools at Russian construction sites began to be used in the early nineties of the last century. It was at that time that several domestic enterprises set up the production of equipment for diamond grinding.
The basis of a diamond tool is a metal case, on which diamond segments are fixed in a special way. These segments are much stronger, more efficient and productive than conventional abrasives. Such high rates are due to the use of diamonds of various shapes and sizes.
The diamond grinding tool has the following advantages:
- processing without unnecessary noise , dust and vibration, which is a very valuable quality when carrying out work in an already inhabited building;
- time savings at least 10 times. The use of diamond tools allows surface treatment in a record short time... As you know, when carrying out construction work, there is always a very acute problem of lack of time and failure to meet planned deadlines, therefore, such an advantage of diamond tools is highly appreciated by specialists;
- high precision and high quality surface treatments from a wide variety of materials.
At the moment, there are several types of diamond tools. On machines of the CO type, grinding discs and triangle milling cutters are used. The latter also have the shape of a disk, but are supplemented with a triangular adapter merged with it, which is reflected in the name. Cutters-triangles are installed on grinders without the use of additional adapters. On GM mosaic grinders, trapezoidal Frankfurt cutters are installed.
Diamond blades may have cutting edge of three types:
- segment;
- continuous;
- toothed.
The segments are separated from each other by so-called flushing channels designed to cool the tool during operation. With wet processing, water flows between the segments, and with dry processing, air passes... Each of the segments is made from a mixture of diamond and metal powders.
The metal grid is used to secure the diamonds. In the process, each diamond grain is supported by the so-called "comet tail", which strengthens the lattice behind the diamond crystals.
When using diamond tools, it is very important to achieve an optimal balance between the frictional resistance of the workpiece and the work of the diamond.
Diamonds, penetrating into the processed material, grind it and turn it into dust. Unprotected diamonds can crack or break during processing. This largely depends on the hardness and density of the material being processed. This material also erases the metal lattice, which contributes to the radial release of new diamond grains.
It is important that the diamonds are held in the bundle until they have exhausted their entire resource and until new grains are released. The quality of the segment should remain unchanged.
Therefore, for sanding dense and solid materials use diamond segments with a softer metal bond. In the course of work, it will wear out faster and, therefore, the diamonds will be released faster. The segment itself, accordingly, will function longer.
But a diamond tool designed for processing softer materials must have greater resistance and rigidity to abrasion. Otherwise, diamond segments will simply be “salted” and their service life will be significantly reduced.
Sandblasting
Technology sandblasting allows not only to clean the concrete surface from various contaminants, but also to create a specific microrelief on it, which further enhances the adhesion of concrete and materials selected for the topcoat. Sandblasting also helps open the pores of the concrete before applying waterproofing compounds.... Thanks to this, the waterproofing penetrates deep into the concrete structure, therefore it performs its protective function more effectively and throughout the entire period declared by the manufacturer.
The following tasks are solved using sandblasting:
- preparation of concrete surfaces for plastering, painting, self-leveling flooring, etc.;
- preparation of a concrete surface for waterproofing;
- removing old paint from concrete;
- cleaning concrete from soot and carbon deposits after a fire;
- cleaning concrete from biological and mineral contaminants (graffiti, mold, efflorescence, oil stains, etc.).
In many cases, it is decisive that sandblasting is cold processing and, moreover, without the use of water... This means that the concrete surface is not exposed to thermal stress during cleaning and does not require additional drying time.
It is also important that such cleaning does not risk corrosion. metal fittings... Moreover, the exposed parts of the reinforcement after a competently performed sandblasting of concrete become already prepared for the application of an anti-corrosion composition.
For sandblasting, special mobile units are used. Abrasive with a stream of air under high pressure is pulled out of the nozzle of the installation and with great strength hits the treated surface. As a result, a jet of abrasive knocks down all contaminants from the concrete, which are immediately blown out of the working area.
Depending on the task at hand, a harder or softer abrasive is used, and the cleaning mode is also varied. This allows you to achieve the desired effect in a fairly short period of time without damaging the surface. The quality and performance of sandblasting depends largely on the air pressure passing through the nozzle.
For cleaning concrete and stone, it is enough that the air pressure is 3-4 atmospheres, and for cleaning metal structures, at least 5-7 atmospheres are required
The main advantages of sandblasting are:
- high speed of surface cleaning... Dirt disappears from the treated surface very quickly, thanks to the action of abrasive particles moving at high speed. This effect is quite difficult to achieve when using liquid cleaning solutions;
- long lasting cleaning effect... As practice proves, surfaces cleaned by sandblasting take much longer to get dirty than those that were cleaned using other methods.
There are several types of sandblasting. The injection method is considered classic. With this method, the abrasive is poured into a sealed container. Then air is injected into this container through the outlet channel. When the force of pressure becomes critical, the abrasive begins to fly out through a special hole.
The injection method is usually used for light cleaning of metal surfaces.... Unlike the previous method, air is pumped not from a hose, but from a cylinder filled with air. In this case, a lower pressure is formed, therefore, the intensity of the operation of the injection apparatus is also lower.
More in a modern way is thermal sandblasting. Its principle is based on the combustion of fuel. As a result of this process, a jet stream is formed.
The main advantage of this technology can be considered a highly productive cleaning, which is several times superior in quality to the classical one. The disadvantages include loud noise, flammability and even explosion hazard if the equipment is used improperly.
Used abrasives
The most common consumable for sandblasting is, of course, sand. This is due to its widespread availability and low cost. Sand is obtained as a result of grinding and subsequent sieving, the so-called milky-white natural quartz.
This material, after crushing, passes through sieves and is screened. In this way, fractional sand is obtained.
Depending on the size of the fractions, the following sand classification is used:
- pulverized quartz with fraction sizes less than 0.1 mm;
- sand with fractions of 0.1-0.4 mm;
- coarse sand with fraction sizes of 0.5-1.0 mm;
- quartz chips with fractions of more than 1.0 mm.
Compared to natural sand, white quartz sand has such advantages as monominerality, uniformity, increased intergranular porosity. But the use of sand containing unbound quartz is not recommended for sandblasting.
The fact is that fine-crystalline dust that occurs when processing concrete in this way can cause a very dangerous and incurable disease - silicosis.
It is allowed to use quartz sand only when using special dust suppression systems or specially equipped chambers
Abrasives such as nickel slag and copper slag contain less than 1% unbound quartz, therefore they can be used for open sandblasting. These materials are obtained after processing waste from nickel-smelting and copper-smelting production. They have higher abrasive properties and, as a result, a lower level of dust formation. And also these abrasives can be reused.
Copper slag and nickel slag particles have high performance specific gravity compared to sand particles, as well as a larger mass, which further increases the effectiveness of these abrasives. Garnet or garnet sand is even more effective. High level the strength and hardness of the garnet particles allows it to be used repeatedly for sandblasting.
One of the most effective abrasive materials is corundum.... It is also called fused corundum, aluminum oxide, or aluminum dioxide. In terms of hardness, this material is inferior to diamond by only one point. The speed of sandblasting when using corundum increases significantly, so the productivity of this method is one of the highest.
To obtain the desired cleaning result, it is extremely important to choose the right abrasive. If this issue is approached without due responsibility, then there is a high probability of getting poor-quality processing, which, in turn, will interfere with subsequent work on applying protective or decorative coatings to the concrete surface and will lead to repeated cleaning.
Before you start sandblasting concrete from oil, you should test abrasives with fractions different sizes on small areas of the surface to be processed. Depending on the test results, an abrasive is selected that will provide the cleaning that most closely matches the specification.
The choice of consumables for sandblasting is influenced by factors such as:
- contamination layer thickness... If you choose a fine abrasive material with a low hardness to remove a strong and thick contaminated layer, then the desired result may not be obtained;
- hardness of the concrete base to be cleaned... For harder concrete, a harder abrasive is also chosen and, conversely, for soft concrete, a less hard one;
- required speed of sandblasting... A hard abrasive with sharp-edged particles provides a faster cleaning speed than a comparable one with rounded particles;
- Abrasive reusability... If this is not possible, inexpensive abrasives should be used.
Hydrojetting method
The method of water jet cleaning is based on the action of a water jet under high pressure on the surface to be treated. As you know, a jet of liquid that flows out under high pressure through a small hole acquires a very high speed and, therefore, high rates of kinetic energy.
Water enters the surface to be cleaned with a directed jet with great force, it is able to remove shallow contaminants from it without any problems
It should be noted that the efficiency this method depends not only on the speed with which the water jet hits the surface to be cleaned, but also on the amount of water flowing out per unit of time. Hence, the cleaning result can be adjusted by the parameters of the flow rate and pressure of the water passing through the nozzle.
With the help of water jet cleaning, it is possible to remove from the concrete surface contamination and deposits of various nature and different chemical composition: resins, bitumen, conservation lubricants, paints and varnishes, rust, carbon deposits, scale, etc. Water pressure is selected depending on the type of contamination.
Sometimes surface-active additives are added to the water, contributing to the rapid removal of particularly difficult, ingrained contaminants. The cleaned surface after such treatment is additionally washed with a stream of running water..
At the moment, there are four types of water jet cleaning:
- low pressure water supply(international designation LP WC). The water jet is supplied under pressure up to 34 MPa. This method removes such simple contaminants as dirt, dust, peeling paint;
- medium pressure water supply(НP WC). The water jet has a pressure of 34-70 MPa;
- high pressure water supply(HP WJ). The pressure in this case is 70-170 MPa. This method allows you to remove all types of dirt, and even a persistent paint and varnish layer;
- ultra high pressure water supply... The pressure indicator is over 170 MPa. This method is comparable to abrasive cleaning and is suitable for delicate cleaning of a concrete surface from any kind of contamination. The peculiarity of this treatment is that it does not affect the surface roughness, so its relief remains the same as it was before the start of work.
The use of a high pressure water jet has proven itself in the cleaning of concrete and natural stone as well as bridges, roadway, Vehicle. When cleaning concrete surfaces, a jet of water removes from it only the destroyed parts of the concrete... In this case, the water jet completely captures the surface, regardless of the complexity of its design.
In this regard, water jetting is similar to sandblasting, but the difference is that after sandblasting, traces of sand remain on the surface, which must be removed.
Water jetted water simply dries up, so no residue remains
Water jetting is used for:
- elimination of pollution from building facades. Using a water jet, you can clean not only even and smooth surfaces, but also various decorative elements on the facades (columns, arches, bas-reliefs, etc.);
- removing poorly adhering plaster from the walls;
- cleaning concrete surfaces from cement laitance;
- stripping and cutting joints between concrete slabs;
- partial or complete destruction of concrete structures, if necessary, for example, repair of reinforcement;
- cleaning of reusable metal formwork elements from concrete;
- removal of scale, rust and old paint from metal structures. Moreover, cleaning occurs without corrosive destruction of the metal;
- cleaning surfaces with complex geometry, which has found its application in cleaning various equipment and mechanisms;
- cleaning from layers and scale of pipelines. Cleaning can be used for both external and internal surfaces of highways;
- removing old markings from the road surface;
- cleaning, cutting and chipping of concrete and reinforced concrete products.
A jet of water with high kinetic energy is generated in water jet units using high pressure pumps.
A standard water jet unit consists of:
- a high-pressure pump capable of generating pressures up to 1000 bar at a capacity of 200 l / min;
- diesel drive for a pump developing a power of 370 kW;
- high pressure hoses;
- various attachments for cleaning all kinds of surfaces and technological equipment... They can be used to clean heat exchanger tubes, various pipelines, the space between the tubes, etc.
It should be noted that water jet cleaning is an environmentally friendly technology. During its implementation, ordinary water from the pipeline is used. And since the use of such water does not require large material costs, then water jet cleaning is quite affordable.
The advantages of this technology also include the absence of gases, vapors, slags, as well as high productivity, reliability and simplicity. Water jet cleaning does not cause any damage to the treated surface. It does not change the structure of the concrete and its mechanical properties, but only removes dirt and really destroyed areas.
Security measures
When carrying out work on cleaning concrete surfaces using various equipment, it is necessary, first of all, to free the treated area from debris, unnecessary building materials and tools. The possibility of getting into working area cutting tool any metal objects that could cause damage to the equipment used.
It is not allowed to work with machines and installations in the presence of increased noise, vibration or odor characteristic of the combustion of the insulation of electrical wires, as well as when grease is leaking from the drive mechanism, fuzzy operation of switches, damage to the insulation of power supply cables.
It is necessary to avoid inhalation of vapors of chemical compounds on concrete, so as not to burn the throat or mouth
Before getting started, be sure to check:
- serviceability of the grounding device to which the equipment used will be connected;
- integrity of grounding wires and grounding circuit;
- absence of short circuits to the case;
- tightening of threaded connections;
- serviceability of the cutting tool.
All chemicals used should be handled with great care as they can cause serious injury if they come into contact with the skin, especially the eyes. ...
When using abrasives for cleaning concrete, the hazard is the blast of air or water with an abrasive... A person, falling under a jet of such power, will receive serious injuries, which can even be fatal. During work, it is imperative to wear protective clothing made of dense fabric, closed shoes, goggles, gloves, and a respirator.
Price
Concrete cleaning rates depend on factors such as:
- amount of work to be done;
- the strength of the concrete surface;
- the thickness of the contaminated concrete layer;
- the presence of reinforcement in concrete;
- conditions of work.
Estimated cost of concrete cleaning services:
conclusions
The choice of the most expedient cleaning method depends on the initial state of the concrete surface, that is, on the degree of its contamination, the presence of corrosion products, residues of previous protective and decorative coatings, etc., as well as on the requirements for the surface in accordance with the proposed repair and construction activities. How suitable the selected cleaning method is can be seen by performing pre-processing small area surface.
Very often, when cleaning concrete, they resort to the sequential use of several methods.... The use of any method is associated to a lesser or greater extent with damage to the concrete structure. In order for this damage in the end result to be as small as possible, when cleaning the surface, you should gradually move from coarser to more subtle methods of impact on the concrete surface.
A practical way to clean concrete from bitumen is shown in the video:
Careless builders cause a lot of trouble, one of which is concrete pollution. This material has good adhesion to metal, brick, stone and therefore it is very difficult to remove it. If metal tools can be washed with a high pressure washer, then with finishing materials more and more complicated.
How different solvents work
You may have seen how the builders spray the stained areas of the surfaces with some kind of liquid that starts to fizzle. This is how acids act - the main components of modern concrete solvents. It seems that everything is simple and it is tempting to do similar remedy do it yourself, but you need to know some points.
Products intended for the removal of dried concrete and cement from metal tools, consist of three components:
- the acid itself, more often mineral;
- corrosion inhibitor;
- water or other liquid.
Manufacturers do not always indicate exactly which acid is used in the product. The definition of "mineral" is quite extensive. There can be many options and, if you make a mistake, you can not wash, but spoil the surfaces to be treated. Therefore, we recommend buying ready-made products and not inventing.
Acid, penetrating into the concrete layer, destroys it. This explains the formation of foam. The concentration of the basic substance is selected so as not to adversely affect the treated surfaces. But still, manufacturers recommend starting work from inconspicuous areas.
Also, concrete solvents, despite the assurances of the sellers, can be harmful to health. Acid fumes can irritate mucous membranes and cause asthma, allergies and chemical burns.
General instructions for use
All solvents and concrete removers are used according to a specific scheme. There are minor nuances or restrictions in use, we will discuss this below. In general, observe the following sequence of work.
- Use plain water to remove dirt and dust from the surface. If possible, use a brush.
- Let the contaminated area dry.
- Apply the solution to the surface using that sponge, brush or trigger (spray).
- Wait 15 minutes (foam formation will decrease).
- Rinse off the broken concrete with water.
The fresh laitance is washed off immediately. Older contaminants require multiple treatments. The process can be accelerated using a Karcher type washing AED, if it does not destroy the surface.
Observe safety rules when working with solvents.
- Protect your eyes with special glasses
- Protect the respiratory system with a cotton-gauze bandage or respirator.
- Wear gloves to avoid chemical burns.
- If working indoors, provide ventilation.
- Ask the seller for a certificate of conformity for the product.
Wash off concrete thinner in eyes or on skin with soap and water. If you feel worse, consult a doctor, tell us what means worked.
Review of effective solvents.
We will tell you which concrete and cement solvents have won the trust of Russian builders. The selection is based on average cost, effectiveness, safety and a number of other parameters.
| Name | Description of the solvent | special instructions |
|---|---|---|
| "Lepta Khimfrez" | Designed for cleaning brick and concrete surfaces from limescale, cement laitance and concrete contamination. | Work at a temperature not lower than 5 ° С. Subsequent sandblasting is allowed. Consumption 2-4 l / m 2. |
| "BIO DECAP'BETON GUARD" | Can be used as an alternative to products containing phosphoric acid. Designed for cleaning tools and equipment from cement deposits. | Shake the canister before use. The composition cannot be diluted. The solution is applied with a spray gun, first on an inconspicuous place. |
| Barracuda 10K | It is used for cleaning all surfaces from concrete, including tiles and bricks. Also suitable for cleaning tires, car paintwork, etc. Does not contain acids. | It is forbidden to use AED for application. Not recommended for use on chrome-plated surfaces or for cleaning low-quality stainless steel. |
| "Lugato Zementschleier entferner" | Dissolves cement and limescale... Can be used for cleaning plumbing fixtures, including bathtubs. | It is forbidden to wash marble and related materials. |
| EK 100 "Super" | Dissolves all cement-based building compounds. It can be used for cleaning construction mixers. | Diluted in proportions based on the purpose. |
| "Divinol Betonloeser" | Topical concrete solvent for cleaning construction equipment and tools. | Do not use on aluminum, brass and copper surfaces. |
Solvent B 100 T (HWR B-100) can be used to protect metal tools, equipment and formwork. It creates a microfilm on the surface and reduces the adhesion of cementitious compounds to different surfaces... After work, the tool can be washed plain water to withdraw any remaining funds.
During the operation of the concrete floor due to exposure external factors it is erased and then a myriad of dust appears in the room. In the case when the floor is of more or less quality, there will be an appropriate amount of dust. If we are dealing with low-quality concrete, then the situation becomes more complicated and the process of work is delayed. Since we are dealing with dust, and housewives have been fighting with it for centuries, we need to take seriously the elimination of such a substance as dust. Concrete is mainly composed of cement, cement, in turn, causes irreparable harm if it enters the respiratory tract. Consider several options when you need to efficiently dust the floor:
- Firstly, when the concrete floor is laid directly;
- 2. When the concrete has already been poured or if the concrete surface has been subjected to some kind of manipulation;
- 3.Well, and thirdly, if it is production room, in order to protect the floor from damage.
How to remove dust from a concrete floor
There are two ways to deal with dust. One of them is the impregnation of the concrete pavement. Impregnations are quite effective and differ in type:
- organic;
- inorganic.
Components of organic impregnations are acrylic, polyurethane. Impregnations are also used, which include epoxy resin... The principle of operation of the primer is to fill microcracks, porous formations.
Floor impregnations
Inorganic primers include fluates, they have a beneficial effect on concrete. Thanks to him, all particles that could subsequently dissolve become insoluble. As a result of this treatment, the floor will become more durable and stop dusting.
Both types of primer will not only dedust the surface, but also prolong its life. Now moisture, chemistry, and, in the end, frost will not be so dangerous for them.
Preparatory work before applying impregnation to a concrete floor
Preparatory work before applying impregnation, you need to carry out in a certain order:
- To begin with, you need to remove the flooring and underlays, they need to be packed and removed. If your floor was covered with linoleum, carpet or laminate, and this kind of coverings, then we do not read this point, move on to the next one. If you had a parquet floor, then you need to wait a day for the dust that rose during the dismantling of the coating to sit down;
- Now we take up the vacuum cleaner, it is better to do it twice. After waiting some time between the first and second time. Will handle it perfectly powerful device, but the priority still remains an industrial construction vacuum cleaner;
- Let's move on to wet cleaning. We wash the surface in the usual way - with a mop and a rag. It is necessary to wash the floor twice;
- We finish the process with dry cleaning. And again we take up the vacuum cleaner, the concrete dust will not give up so easily, we apply tough measures to it and vacuum it twice.
This information is not taken from the head, there is a normative act SNiP dated 03/02/2013 - 88 called "FLOORS. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND RULES FOR DESIGN, DEVICE, ACCEPTANCE, OPERATION AND REPAIR "
Preparatory work
Before removing dust, the floor is sanded for perfect evenness, and the next step will be the second phase of dedusting. It is unforgettable that the most favorable temperature will be over five degrees Celsius. The concrete must be 90 percent dry to allow the impregnation to penetrate deep into the floor.
Referring to the normative document, do not forget that the surface of the concrete floor must be rough.
Impregnation of concrete floor with fluate
If you will be covering a concrete floor with paint, it is best to use an inorganic primer. How to do it better:
- Fluate is a concentrated solution that we prepare before use. To do this, we take water and dilute it at the rate of 200 ml per square meter. It is enough to spill the resulting mixture on the floor;
- Now you need to distribute evenly over the entire surface and rub until completely absorbed. You can use rubber brushes, scrapers. If the solution is prepared correctly, it will not dry for a long time, about twenty minutes. Further, the excess is removed with a rag.
You should start painting the floor no earlier than 24 hours later.
Applying the solution to the floor
Organic impregnations for concrete floors
Primer on polyurethane base, the most versatile impregnation method. It enhances wear resistance, shock resistance, as well as water and chemical resistance. Penetrates to a depth of 3mm. The advantages include the use in frost, even such low temperatures like 30 degrees Celsius.
Let's take a look at the advantages of acrylic primers. They should be used in a room that is intended for a living room. Perhaps for a floor that will eventually be covered with a laminate or parquet.
Concrete floor priming
Protexil - this primer forms a high-strength surface, is indifferent to the effects of chemical reagents.
If for some reason you do not want to use a solvent, consider using an epoxy primer. Its dry residue will be one hundred percent.
Do you want a varnished floor? Buy a primer Lazur. It gives the floor a decorative look. This impregnation can be applied over any other.
Making the concrete floor as strong as possible
You need to harden the concrete floor. We will use a topping coating that will retain its original appearance for a long time in industrial and warehouse premises. A special mixture is rubbed into the floor with the help of a concrete leveling machine. The mixture is prepared from cement and other special substances. The choice of the quality of the mixture depends on the expected loads. Thanks to this coating, we get a non-slip, water-repellent, heavy-duty floor. The final step is to grout the surface.
Concrete trowelling machine
Safety rules for hardening a concrete floor
Extreme care must be taken when working with impregnations. They are composed of merciless components. Use gloves that will withstand the acid. Take a plastic container for raw materials. If product comes into contact with skin, wash with plenty of water.
Let's summarize
The use of impregnation for dedusting helps us get rid of many problems. Helps to keep everything that will subsequently stand on this floor clean. The floor does not collect dust, does not collapse. Good looking.
Concrete floor dedusting video
Concrete floors with high-quality filling are very reliable and durable. They serve as an excellent base for almost any flooring, or they themselves can act as an exploited surface. But they also have a significant drawback - education a large number dust, which is often a serious problem. Is it possible to dedust the concrete floor with your own hands?
Not only is it possible, but it is absolutely necessary! For this, there are a number of techniques that can be used both individually and in combination.
Before moving on to the consideration of dedusting technologies, it is useful to understand the reason for the formation of dust on the concrete floor. It lies in the very structural structure of the hardened concrete.
This is a pronounced conglomerate mixture, which includes completely dissimilar materials that differ not only in size, but also in chemical composition. The silicate crystal lattice formed during the maturation of the cement stone intersects with large fragments of insoluble sand or gravel filler.
Looking at a slice of concrete under a microscope allows you to see its pronounced porosity - from the most microscopic to large pores filled with a gel cement substance, air or water. There are a lot of them and chemically active unbound substances, which, on the one hand, are unnecessary ballast, and on the other, cause erosion processes, especially in the upper, most fragile layers of the screed.
In addition to this, the process of concrete maturation is always associated with the release of cement milk to the surface, which, when solidified, forms an extremely fragile layer, which is often the main source of dust formation.
Thus, to prevent dust formation, you can either strengthen or remove the upper unstable layer, or bond it with additional crystalline formations or polymer structure. Hence, there are three main approaches to solving the problem of dedusting - surface hardening by topping, grinding or processing with special impregnations. Very often these technologies are applied in a complex manner, which gives the most effective result.
What is dedusting required for?
- First of all, if the erosional surface processes are not stopped, they will eventually affect the deeper layers of concrete, which will lead to partial or even complete destruction of the screed.
- Cement dust poses a serious threat to human health - it can provoke the development of diseases of the respiratory system, eyes, skin, and cause allergic reactions.
- Dust getting into parts and assemblies of machinery and equipment can cause their rapid wear and even quickly damage them.
- The dusty floor is very difficult to clean normally, it always looks untidy.
- Even if it is planned to floor a decorative coating on a screed, the formation of dust will certainly make itself felt over time with a crunch or squeaks. Therefore, experts advise to carry out dedusting on any floor, without any exceptions.
Having understood the essence of the problem, one can proceed to the consideration of dedusting technologies.
Reinforcing the concrete floor with topping
To immediately understand the meaning of this tricky word, you can draw a direct analogy with the well-known "ironing" with freshly poured concrete screed when it is sprinkled with dry cement, which is rubbed into the surface layer. Alas, the resulting layer is not durable, it quickly collapses.
"Ironing" in the old-fashioned way
Special formulations - toppings - are devoid of these drawbacks. They consist of cement, special binders and a very fine filler, which determines both the strength and the appearance of the surface.
- Quartz sand can be used as a filler. This hardening is quite suitable for rooms with light to medium stress. Often, this topping is given different shades - this allows you to give concrete semi decorative.
- For floors where an increased load is planned, it is better to use corundum topping... It will harden the screed by about 1.8 times, and the abrasion resistance is doubled.
- The most durable is metallized topping, but it is used only in industrial construction, where floors are exposed to extreme mechanical or vibration loads.
How is hardening done with topping
Introduction topping- a rather laborious and demanding process, requiring, among other things, the use of special equipment. The screed must be properly reinforced, strengthened as much as possible with a vibrating screed. The thickness of the concrete layer must be at least 70 mm, and its grade must be at least M300.
- The technology consists in uniform scattering of dry topping on the surface of the poured screed and rubbing it thoroughly. A special trowel is used for this - so called. « helicopter» .
Trowel - "helicopter"
- You can manually dispense the composition over the surface, but it would be better to use a special dispensing trolley.
- The first application and grouting are carried out 3 ÷ 7 hours after the screed is poured, so that it has time to initially grab (the footprint of a person's shoes should not be deeper than 4 ÷ 5 mm). Contribute approximately ⅔ of the estimated amount topping... As soon as the composition begins to be saturated with moisture, it is immediately rubbed with a "helicopter". It is important to soak the composition as much as possible with cement milk and not overdry the surface. Additional moistening of the surface with water is strictly prohibited.
- After the first grout, without making any break, immediately add the remaining third of the topping, and, after complete soaking, rub thoroughly.
- When the surface of the floor is set so that the footprint of the shoe is no more than 1 mm, finish grouting is carried out. It remains to treat the screed with a special water-retaining compound, and the work can be considered completed.
Such a floor, after full maturity, will have a solid surface on which dust will never form.
Approximate consumption topping for rooms with an average load - from 3 to 5 kg per 1 m².
Dedusting floors by grinding and polishing
The essence of this technology is the removal of the unstable, erosion-prone upper layer, with the expectation of opening the lower, truly durable layers of concrete. This solves several problems at once:
- The remaining minor defects of the screed are eliminated, it acquires the desired smoothness and evenness.
- The adhesion of the surface to any mortars and mixtures increases.
- If an old surface is being treated, this will remove dirt or remnants of old coatings.
- The waterproofing of the screed increases, dust formation is practically reduced to zero.
- The floors are given an aesthetic look.
Grinding is recommended to precede any further actions- pouring polymer floors, decorative coatings, painting works, etc. Often times, floor grinding and polishing is also the final stage - after which the surface will be ready for use.
Sanding can be done dry or wet.
- Sanding on a wetted surface is usually used when installing mosaic floors with marble or granite filling. The resulting surface is characterized by almost perfect evenness, close to polished. The disadvantage of this technology is high labor intensity, low productivity due to the rapid clogging of abrasive elements with wet sludge, which is very difficult to remove in a timely manner.
- Dry sanding is the most widespread... It allows you to visually control the process, does not require time for the floor to dry after processing to move on to other operations. The only negative is the abundant formation of dust during work. This will definitely require connecting a powerful vacuum cleaner to any grinding technique.
How is concrete floor grinding
If you have to grind the floor indoors large area, you will need a special mosaic sander.
This is a rather heavy set. with electric drive, the working part of which is one or more rotating discs with removable diamond or corundum segments mounted on them - cutters, frankfurts, cups. The segments differ, in addition, in their grain size - for phased implementation grinding.
Such machines are very expensive equipment, but many construction or service organizations practice leasing them for a fee. If you plan to grind the floor, you can specify in advance such a possibility.
In the case when the rental of such equipment is impossible or simply impractical, you can use and hand tool... There are special grinders for concrete. In addition, you can purchase a nozzle for an ordinary "grinder", and carry out grinding of a small area and with its help. Of course, both time and effort will be spent much more.
"Bulgarian" adapted for grinding concrete
Sanding can be carried out both on a freshly laid floor and on an old subfloor.
1. In the first case, the first pass is done no earlier than 5-7 days after pouring. This will allow to remove the top layer of cement laitance, open more durable layers for better maturation.
The second, finishing pass is done only after the concrete has fully matured - not earlier than four weeks later.
2. If the work is carried out on an old concrete base, then first of all its readiness for grinding is assessed. "Weak" areas are unacceptable - delamination, crumbling, looseness. If there is such a thing, you will have to start with renovation works using epoxies. In case of extensive damage, it will be more profitable to fill in a new screed.
To avoid unpleasant "surprises", you should carefully check the surface for the presence of fragments of reinforcement sticking out or in the upper layer - a meeting with metal may result in injury or equipment failure.
So, grinding itself is carried out in three main stages:
- The first is the removal of a fragile surface layer, maximum exposure of the filler, preliminary leveling of the surface. When old screed, in addition, the removal of areas that have undergone surface erosion, as well as the remains of old paint and varnish or bitumen coatings. The grain size of the segments used at this stage is -30 - 40 units
- The second stage (recommended) is an additional strengthening impregnation with special compounds. More on this in the next section of the publication.
- The third stage is final. After the impregnating composition has completely solidified, abrasive segments with a grain size of 100 to 400 units are used in sequence. (sometimes even smaller ones). As a result, the concrete pavement receives excellent strength qualities, has a smooth and even, dust-free surface... Such a floor can be considered completely ready-to-use.
- Sometimes, in case of special need, they additionally resort to polishing the concrete base. Using diamond segments with a grain size of 1500 ÷ 3000 units, you can get practically mirror surface floor, absolutely dust-free, impermeable to water, not afraid of any chemical reagents and extremely easy to clean.
Dedusting the floor with impregnating compounds
From the point of view of independent work, this technology is the simplest. Nevertheless, it shows good results, especially when combined with other dedusting methods.
The bottom line is to introduce into the porous structure of concrete special impregnations various types of action - mineral or polymer (organic).
1. Mineral compositions (fluates) cause chemical reactions in the upper layers of concrete, neutralizing free components and creating additional insoluble crystalline vitreous bonds, which, intertwining with the crystal lattice of cement, give high-strength and dust-free surface.
- Until recently, sodium silicate was the main substance in such impregnations. However, such compositions have serious drawbacks: the duration of the completion of chemical processes (sometimes up to six months), the need for a very thorough rubbing in of the composition and the mandatory rinsing of the surface after the impregnation is completely absorbed. If excess composition remains on the surface, efflorescence may form in these places.
- Modern mineral impregnations are made on the basis of lithium polysilicate. They penetrate even the smallest pores, and the processes of chemical transformations take only 10-15 days. One impregnation is enough for the entire period of operation of the screed, while the introduction of the composition does not require any effort, rubbing and rinsing the surface.
2. Organic impregnations fill the pores of concrete with polymer molecular chains, creating additional bonds in the thickness of the material and increasing its strength and wear resistance. They are of several types:
- Acrylic - used on floors where heavy loads are not provided, or the surface will close floor covering... They can also be used for temporary (for 1 - 2 years) dedusting of the floor.
- Polyurethane - more versatile and durable. Provides additional water-repellent qualities to the surface. The disadvantage is a strong unpleasant odor during application and polymerization.
- Epoxy - quite expensive, but very reliable and durable. They are often used where impregnations with a pungent odor cannot be applied (for example, when carrying out repairs in one of the rooms of an apartment or house).
Application of dedusting impregnations
Any of the impregnations, regardless of component composition, without fail accompanied by detailed instructions for preparation (if dilution with water or preparation of two-component impregnation is required) and the rules for its application. Compliance with these manufacturer's recommendations is mandatory, otherwise the required dedusting and hardening effect may not be achieved.
- Before the direct use of the impregnation, the floor is once again subjected to a thorough examination. If necessary, it is carried out minor repairs epoxy putties It is important that the impregnation is distributed as evenly as possible, without leaving areas where the composition can be quickly absorbed, and without the formation of puddles.
Dust removal technologies with silicate and organic impregnations are somewhat different:
- If a sodium silicate composition is used, then the primary impregnation stage should be about 40 ÷ 60 minutes. During this time, the impregnation on the floor should become viscous. It is slightly diluted with water and redistributed evenly over the entire surface. Some types of compounds will require, in addition, the use of a trowel or scrubber drier - for thorough rubbing into the surface.
- After 20 minutes after re-spreading, any excess impregnation is removed with a squeegee or rag. The floor is thoroughly rinsed with clean water.
- When using lithium impregnations, there are fewer complications. They are simply applied to concrete base with the required flow rate (it will be indicated on in the instructions for use). After the composition is completely absorbed and the surface has dried, the process can be considered complete.
- When dedusting with organic impregnations, they are recommended to be applied in 2 - 3 stages, so as to achieve maximum saturation of the concrete base.
Video - dedusting the floor with lithium impregnation
And the last - on the possible timing of the work. Silicate impregnations are allowed to be applied both on old concrete and on freshly laid concrete, but not earlier than one day after pouring. The use of organic impregnations is possible only on a fully matured substrate.
Oil contamination
In our industrial time, many enterprises function, and also a large number of them are opened. During the construction of transport coverage, it is used concrete mix... They are very reliable and load resistant.
Concrete is a mixture of several components: cement, sand, water, crushed stone, various additives and additives. How construction material he has proven himself very well, and therefore occupies a leading position in construction.
The oil is used in the production process in different areas. Depending on its properties and application, it can be divided into groups.
The most popular: motor, hydraulic, industrial, compressor, lubricating and other oils.
The interaction of concrete and oil is a regular process in any enterprise. Consequently, many are interested in the process of removing contamination. How to clean the oil from the concrete floor?
In order to start eliminating traces of pollution, you need to determine its degree. If the oil stain has just appeared, then sorbents such as sand, sawdust or soda can be used. Simply cover the contamination with absorbent material and wait for the reaction to occur. This method removes the underlying problem, but leaves traces of oil. After that, you need to use detergents to wipe off the stain.
The above method is suitable for fresh education. But in most cases, as a result of the intensity of work or the irresponsibility of workers, the stain can stand for more than one hour or a day. This leads to the fact that the oil is absorbed into the concrete floor and becomes difficult to remove. If you have a similar situation and do not know how to remove oil from the concrete floor, then the following method will be useful for you.
Many companies are faced with such a problem, making this issue relevant for manufacturers of industrial chemicals. To create an effective tool, many experiments and tests were carried out. As a result, special chemical compositions, which quickly and efficiently remove traces of oil pollution. Cleaning companies and industrial cleaning experts use these products.
The method of oil purification by industrial chemistry has a number of advantages. Because of this, it is gaining more and more popularity. In order to start the stain removal process, you just need to apply the product to the surface. The substance begins to be absorbed into the stain and the surrounding surface, breaking down the oil molecules. The whole process takes a few minutes, which is a great time-saver. After the reaction has passed, you need to remove the resulting consistency with a rag. This cleaning method is fast, effective and of high quality.
If you have not decided how to clean the concrete floor from oil, write to us, we will help you with the choice. Thank you for the attention.