Concrete densifiers transform concrete, masonry, and cement-based products into mass solid. Concrete with no densifiers is porous. The penetrating qualities of the densifier offer effective deep sealing, thereby improving the chemical properties of a cement (calcium silicate hydrate).
The concrete sealers create a floor surface that is easy to clean and maintain. The chemical reaction hardens and strengthens the solid contents and concrete mass, which in turn protects the surface from deterioration. You can apply the densifier during the polishing process of the concrete surface.
What Is A Lithium Densifier?
Lithium densifier is a surface strengthener and densifier which contains lithium silicate compound. The lithium silicate (Li2SiO3) has the following elements: lithium, oxygen, and silicone. There are other types of densifiers: sodium silicate and potassium silicate densifiers.
How Does Lithium Densifier Work?
All the densifiers undergo the same chemical reaction. The reaction results in hardening the concrete floor surface. Densifiers are chemical silicate compounds.
Silicate is the primary chemical agent that changes the physical properties of concrete. Lithium, sodium, and potassium act like the transporting agent.
When you add the densifier, it reacts with the calcium carbonate present in the concrete. The densifier reacts to form a crystalline structure (calcium silicate). The structure forms on the surface pores of the masonry or concrete.
The calcium silicate compound increases the strength of the concrete’s surface. When you use a lithium densifier, the by-product of the reaction will be lithium carbonate. The by-products of sodium or potassium densifiers are sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate. These products don’t affect the physical or chemical properties of the concrete.
You apply the potassium and lithium silicates differently compared to sodium silicate. How do you apply a densifier (lithium silicate or potassium silicate)? You spray it on the concrete’s surface at a rate of approximately 500 sq. ft. /gallon.
When spraying the densifier, use a low-pressure sprayer. Leave the densifier to dry on the surface, and don’t rinse it. The silicone silicates are a bit costly when you buy per gallon, but more affordable than the sodium densifier according to a manufacturer’s rates.
Benefits of Using Lithium Silicate Densifier
- The surface of the concrete becomes non-slippery.
- Lithium silicate improves the physical conditions of old floors.
- Additionally densifiers create a smooth surface with abrasion resistance. Thereby reducing the wear and tear of tires.
- There’s minimal production downtime. You can start using the floor immediately after completing the application process.
- Concrete surfaces hardened by lithium silicates are tightly compacted. They don’t need stripping, waxing, or concrete polishing for maintenance.
- Lithium silicates improve the reflective properties of the floor, improving lighting in the room.
