Protective and Decorative
Acrylic-Based Technologies for Concrete Curing and Sealing
Reach New Levels of Performance
Valued for its durability, structural capabilities and aesthetic possibilities, concrete is a popular
material for a wide range of interior and exterior commercial, industrial, residential and
infrastructure applications. But whether it is used on a patio or a parking deck, proper curing
and sealing are essential steps to ensuring the longest life possible for functional and decorative
concrete materials.
Dow Construction Chemicals has more than 30 years of experience in water-based chemistries,
and we continue to lead the way in meeting exceedingly low volatile organic compound (VOC)
regulations. We offer acrylic technology engineered to enhance performance of cure membrane,
sealer, and cure and seal formulations – and we have application experts available to help you
formulate the right products for your customers. Wherever your curing and sealing challenges
take you … start here.
2
Solutions from Concrete Curing to Extended Surface Protection
When concrete is first placed, keeping moisture in is the goal. But once it has cured, the challenge is to keep moisture out
– particularly when the concrete will be subjected to repeated freezing and thawing. Beyond helping to keep this moisture
balance in check, concrete cure membranes, cure and seal formulations, and sealers can each play a role in developing
and protecting the long-term integrity of concrete materials in many other ways.
Depending on the requirements of your application, our water-based and solvent-based technology platforms can be
tailored to deliver strong performance in several areas, including:
• Excellent water retention to help promote optimal hydration
• Ultraviolet (UV) stability
• Stain resistance
• Long-term color enhancement
• Cost-effectiveness
• Adhesion
Cure Membranes for Efficient Hydration
Moist-curing is widely held to be the best method for concrete curing, but it is not always practical. However, liquid cure
membranes from Dow offer an efficient and economical way to restrict moisture evaporation during the critical hydration
process and promote proper curing when traditional techniques are not feasible.
Applied to freshly placed concrete (within two hours), cure membranes form a film to slow water evaporation, enabling
more extensive hydration of Portland cement.
This increases the strength of the concrete and helps minimize shrinkage cracking. Most cure membranes are designed
to wear off after 28 days when hydration is largely complete. A sealer may then be applied to provide more extensive
protection to the concrete surface.
Dow’s acrylic technology is an essential ingredient to form cure membranes, helping to improve key concrete properties.
Dow Solutions for Cure Membranes
Products
Improved Membrane Performance
RHOPLEX™ CS-3800 styrene-acrylic copolymer
•
•
Hydrophobicity
Meets ASTM specifications at low solids
RHOPLEX CS-4000 acrylic polymer emulsion
•
•
Excellent UV resistance
Excellent exterior durability
3
We Can Help You Seal the Deal
Sealers for Long-Term Protection and Beauty
Sealers, applied to fully cured concrete (after 28 days), typically provide higher levels of protection and color enhancement to
concrete surfaces over a longer period of time.
Acrylic-based sealers work via a film-forming process, during which they form a coating (1-10 mils thick) on top of the concrete
surface to help prevent water penetration and efflorescence and provide good stain resistance (see Figure 1). This differs from
penetrating sealers, such as silanes and siloxanes, which react chemically with the concrete to form their water repellency.
Figure 1: How Water- and Solvent-Based Sealers Work
WATER-BASED SEALER
water evaporation
SOLVENT-BASED SEALER
water evaporation
continues
solvent evaporation
continues
polymer particles
deform and fuse
together
polymer particles
solvent evaporation
polymer chains
entangle
polymer chains
water
solvent
concrete
concrete
concrete
In water-based acrylic sealers, polymer particles are dispersed in water. During
application, these particles move closer together as the water evaporates.
As evaporation continues, the particles deform and fuse to eventually form a
continuous coating.
concrete
concrete
concrete
concrete
With solvent-based sealers, the polymer chains and the solvent form a continuous
solution. During application, the polymer chains are drawn together and entangle
as the solvent continues to evaporate, creating a continuous coating.
Cleaner, Sturdier, Better
Sealers based on acrylic polymer and resin technology from Dow Construction Chemicals fill in the gaps – literally. Besides
improving the appearance of, and providing excellent stain resistance for, concrete applications, acrylic-based film-forming
sealers greatly reduce water penetration, cracking and efflorescence when compared to unsealed concrete, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Unsealed vs. Sealed Concrete
4
Unsealed
Sealed
Marks of Distinction
While water- and solvent-based sealers have some differentiating characteristics, once applied and cured, they function in a
similar way. Both types of sealers have these key attributes in common:
• Toughness and durability – Providing resistance to stains, abrasion, water, chemicals and hot tire pickup (HTPU), waterand solvent-based acrylic sealers enable effective protection of concrete surfaces that can last for two to three years.
• Application ease – Both water- and solvent-based acrylic sealers are available in fully formulated, ready-to-apply one-pack
variations. They can either be sprayed or rolled on and will easily adhere with little or no surface preparation. Acrylic-based
sealers can be applied to new or old concrete, unlike their silane- and siloxane-based penetrating sealer counterparts that
cannot be applied to new concrete.
• UV resistance – 100 percent acrylic sealers are fully transparent to UV light and will not undergo the photochemical
breakdown experienced by more UV-absorbent polymers such as nonaliphatic polyurethanes and most epoxies. UV resistance
enhances a sealer’s durability and protective qualities.
• Easy removal – If acrylic-based sealers need to be removed, it is relatively easy – unlike epoxies and urethane-based
sealers, which often require harsh chemicals and/or sandblasting to remove them.
While acrylic-based sealers have a more glossy finish than other types, there are some subtle differences in the appearance of
water- and solvent-based sealers (see Figures 3 and 4).
Beyond appearance, distinctions between water- and solvent-borne systems have become more subtle as advances in technology
are making it possible to offer both types of systems with very similar environmental and performance benefits. Every application
has different requirements, and our technical experts can help you find the solution that is right for your sealer application.
Figure 3: Water-Based Sealers
Figure 4: Solvent-Based Sealers
During application, water-based sealers appear milky white,
and they typically cure to a lower-gloss, matte finish.
Solvent-based sealers generally have a more glossy finish
that enhances the color of underlying concrete.
5
Performance Attributes
Performance attributes of both water- and solvent-based sealers are demonstrated in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Dow Construction Chemicals Concrete Sealer Recommendations
Water-Based Sealers
Solvent-Based Sealers
RHOPLEX™ EI-6000
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000
RHOPLEX™ WL-91
PARALOID™ B-66
PARALOID™ B-67
Formulation to 100 g/l
VOC
+++
+
0
+
-
Exterior Durability
+++
++
+
++
++
Water Whitening
Resistance
++
+
+
+++
+++
Hot Tire Pickup
Resistance
0
+
+++
+++
+++
Abrasion Resistance
+
++
++
+++
+++
Chemical Resistance
+
++
+++
+
+
Hydrophobicity
+
++
++
+++
+++
Adhesion
0
+
+++
+++
+++
Food Stain Resistance
0
+
++
+++
+++
Good for Interior Use
√
√
√
√
√
Good for Exterior Use
√
√
√
√
√
For Use on Vertical
Surfaces
√
√
√
√
√
For Use on Horizontal
Surfaces
√
√
√
√
√
+++EXCELLENT
+GOOD
++
0AVERAGE
6
VERY GOOD
-
POOR
√ACCEPTABLE
Cure and Seal for Maximum Convenience
Cure and seal formulations, particularly popular for decorative concrete surfaces, are a quick and cost-effective way to
achieve both effective curing and excellent short-term surface protection in a single step. Applied to fresh concrete, the
cure and seal product acts initially as a cure membrane and then remains on the concrete surface, sealing and protecting
it. Two core products from Dow combine the ability to retain water for curing purposes with long-term durability in sealer
applications, delivering excellent performance in cure and seal formulations. In addition, both of these polymers are lowvoc capable.
Dow Solutions for Cure and Seal Formulations
Products
Improved Cure and Seal Performance
RHOPLEX™ CS-3800 styrenated acrylic polymer
•
Hydrophobicity
RHOPLEX™ CS-4000 acrylic polymer
•
•
Excellent durability
High gloss
Start Here with Dow Construction Chemicals
Dow Construction Chemicals is the market leader and first choice for meaningful, innovative and differentiated solutions
for the building and construction industry. We have the people, technology, reach and quality to help you meet your goals.
People
• Dedicated and reliable employees with application expertise
• Responsive support with an extensive network of Technical Support Centers
Technology
• Broad portfolio of proven chemistry
• Expansive network of world-class research capabilities
• Analytical, toxicological and environmental capabilities
• Innovative new technologies
Reach
• Building industry knowledge
• Global organization with worldwide network
• Reliable supply chain network
Quality
• Commitment to product quality and consistency
• Operational excellence
• Manufacturing know-how
7
Want to Learn More? Start Here.
DowConstructionChemicals.com
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