Through hydration technology, Enhance products greatly reduce shrinkage and cracking of concrete.


Efflorescence can ruin a concrete slab. Enhance products use virtually all of the calcium hydroxide in the hydration process, so there is little or none left to leach out as efflorescence.

 

Delaminated concrete toppings are the result of a weakened bond interface caused by substrate suction of moisture from the new topping. Enhance products eliminate the suction, allow the topping to retain moisture content and developing a strong mechanical bond.


Spalling problems are resolved with Enhance products.


Honeycombing is a result of non-uniform settling of aggregates and cement paste. Bleedwater will often contribute to this form of segregation. Enhance PMT in concrete ends this problem.


Concrete modified by Enhance products is a pleasure to place and finish. Since much more of the portland cement is being hydrated into usable paste, concrete finishes are always creamy and full of body.


Increased workability is achieved when Enhance products are added to concrete. Even with a low slump, concrete flows freely through rebar mats and forms.


Metal reinforcement oxidizes when in contact with water, which causes the surrounding concrete to break loose. Enhance products waterproof concrete, solving this problem.


Concrete modified with Enhance products produce higher compressive, tensile and shear strengths in shorter yield times than untreated concrete. This is ideal for tilt-up construction applications.


Because Enhance products added to concrete produce more high quality dense cement paste the concrete matrix is highly resistant to water, also problems resulting from freeze/ thaw, like this cracking, are greatly reduced.


Enhance has the Solution to Your Concrete Problems

Shrinkage

EPC topical penetrants provide a non-filming, non-membrane approach to shrinkage control through high performance curing. Moisture gets locked in and concrete is able to slow cure under ideal conditions. Good concreting practice still applies and wet cure may still be employed for maximum benefit. PMT integral admixtures assist hydration and act as an excellent water manager in plastic concrete of mortar (render, plaster, stucco) mixes. In effect, PMT acts in a self-curing capacity for the whole mix. It is beneficial to use an EPC material to provide the quick surface sealing action desired to provide optimum curing conditions. Shrinkage is primarily a function of rapid volume loss (evaporating water). Try our technology – you will never go back to the old way.
Shrinkage cracks like this result from rapid volume loss caused by bleed water, evaporation and perhaps inadequate curing procedures. PMT enhanced concrete uses consumes all the water in the mix, retains the water longer, and with no visible bleed water even during placement.

Surface Hardening

EPC penetrants all perform in part a hardening of new concrete surfaces. ArmorSeal (EPC-009) is specifically designed for the task. Surfaces hardeners come in a number of forms; high density cement/ aggregates (broadcast); metallic (broadcast); and liquid hardeners. ArmorSeal falls into the last category. What sets ArmorSeal apart from other liquids is its’ full near surface penetration. Rarely will any residue remain on the surface requiring intensive flushing or cleaning operations. ArmorSeal is also insoluble once cured.

Concrete Cleaning

Concrete is a difficult substance to keep clean. A reasonable degree of protection can be provided by sealers, but they require regular maintenance to remain effective. Not all surfaces can be sealed, nor is it cost effective or desired by the owner. EPC penetrants purge contaminants from concrete surfaces such as efflorescence of hydrocarbons (oil). EPC-1000 is designed specifically to clean oil deposit on concrete surfaces and proved useful where solvent cleaners are not allowed. Another cleaning problem is graffiti. Even sealed concrete is still subject to problems with graffiti. For this area ESC repellents are designed to create an invisible architectural bond-breaker.

Moisture Transmission

Moisture transfer through concrete slabs is a large problem in the flooring and toppings industries. Moisture causes the failure of adhesive applied flooring, also cement based and gypcrete toppings. Part of the function of EPC penetrants is to tighten the concrete matrix and restrict moisture passage through porosity, capillaries and bleed-water veins. To effectively reduce moisture or vapor transmission to serviceable levels EPC penetrants re-hydrate concrete floors which develop additional hydrate growth restricting moisture passage. EPE-157 is a specially design epoxy for problem floors. For more information see the floor treatments products and section of this site.

Large Slabs: Curling and Cracking vs. High Performance

Control of shrinkage and cracking is determined in large part by site preparation, reinforcement, control cuts or joints, W/C ratio and curing methods. Beside these the contractor must be aware of temperature, wind, site added water and a myriad of other complexities of placing large slabs.

Controlled Hydration for a Better Slab

PMT admixture technology assists concrete slabs to retain moisture, hydrate more efficiently, remain workable and prevent bleeding. This all contributes to better control of moisture volume loss which in turn reduces shrinkage, plastic cracking, long term cracking and curling (a side effect of rapid shrinking as a result of drying at slab edges, cuts and joints). Concerned about using an admix you are not familiar with? The same slab performance can be achieved using EPC and NSC penetrating curing agents. In fact, for best results, even PMT treated slabs should be dusted with EPC or NSC, especially over cuts and joints.


Enhance Materials for Precast Concrete

Demonstrated Benefits

The increased quantity and quality of cement paste provided by Enhance PMT admixtures gives the precast producer exactly what is desired in most mixes:

  • Improved workability
  • Excellent flow characteristics
  • Absence of segregation
  • Reduced bleed water (no wash out in details)
  • Less bug holes (reduced repair time and inconsistency in finish)

Within reason, slump may be adjusted using only added water. PMT’s are very good water managers. Water content may be adjusted in block mixes to improve paste volume and reduce efflorescence associated with zero slump mixes. Even block becomes more waterproof without the use of polymers.

Colored products are easy to manage. Water content is less of an issue, and color wash-out or leaching is less of a concern. PMT treated cement paste is considerably more color-fast. In addition, thousands of dollars can be saved on the cost of acid washing efflorescence covered panels. Sharp bright colors are maintained and customer satisfaction is improved.

Enhance PMT in precast structures greatly reduce bug holes, which saves repair time and cost. Efflorescence leaching out on colored precast panels has always been a problem. Enhance products solve this problem and makes concrete more color-fast.
No resultant bleed water in PMT enhanced precast concrete helps prevent washout. Precast concrete enhanced with PMT always breaks clean from forms.

Surface sealing for best results is completed with use of EPC-150 or EPC-300. A surface repellent material may be used for graffiti or surface moisture concerns such as sprinklers, where iron may deposit from evaporated municipal water supply.


More Problems Solved

Plastic Concrete: Bleed water, Segregation, Pumping Low Cement Content Mixes, Curing, Curling, Shrinkage, Bonding, Workability, Color Stability, Efflorescence, Permeability, Porosity, Staining and Contamination, Organic Growth (Mold & Mildew).
This Basement wall is not treated with Enhance PMT. Extreme segregation, honeycombing and cold joints occurred. This Basement wall was treated with PMT. Without any difference in placement procedure or vibration the walls are clean smooth.

Cured Concrete: Long Term Shrinkage, Bonding, Dusting, Color Stability, Efflorescence, Permeability, Porosity, Staining and Contamination, Organic Growth (Mold & Mildew), Graffiti Protection, Vapor Transmission