Super Sealer

Adhesion to any substrate is critical to the performance of any coating, specifically to a concrete substrate that is exposed to different moisture concentrations and densities.

Super Seal is a unique blend of chemicals designed to maximize adherence to a myriad of different substrates including and not limited to concrete surfaces. The constant exposure to hydrostatic moisture that migrates up through concrete causing failure from the delaminating, blistering, peeling and flaking of coatings from the concrete surface. Penetration of a sealer is a key element to a successful primer base for maximum adhesion and performance.

Testing to determine how much hydrostatic pressure (pressure from beneath the concrete substrate) would be held back was not done due to the varying situations and lack of consistent conditions that would not be replicated in the field. These varying conditions would be density of concrete, amount of moisture present prior to coating, amount of varying pressures that would be exerted, quality of concrete, age of concrete and temperatures at which the surface would be exposed at any given time.

A slow curing primer base is essential to this performance. The sealer must be utilized as both a primer and an adhesive acting as a “cross linking” barrier to keep moisture from coming through the substrate and an adherent to bond the coating to the substrate at the same time.

Testing was performed to check the performance of the adhesion of the Super Seal under adverse conditions (completely saturated), minimal conditions (damp conditions) and preferred conditions. Preferred conditions being a clean, dry substrate with no visual presence of moisture in the substrate (dry concrete).

Preparation of substrate:

Three samples of varying degrees of dampness were tested using the ASTM Testing methods 4440 & D4541-95. A dry, damp and wet sample of similar substrates were coated with a single batch of Super Seal as so the replication would be exactly the same batch, mix and blend on all three samples following manufacturer’s recommendations on mixing of the Super Seal by Vortex.

DRY SURFACE:

A sample of dry concrete block was stored at an ambient temperature (23C, 73F) and relative humidity (60%) before coating with Super Seal. A coat of Super Seal was applied by brush to a wet film of 5-7 mils thick with a brush. Aluminum test disc were then placed upon the wet Super Seal and the allowed to cure at ambient conditions for a period of 6 days.

DAMP SURFACE:

A sample of dry concrete block was submerged in a container of cool tap water for a period of 24 hours. The sample was then removed and any visual water residue was removed with a paper towel. Immediately after removing any visual water residue from the surface, a coat of Super Seal was applied by brush to a wet film of 5-7 mils thick. Aluminum test disc were then placed upon the wet Super Seal and the allowed to cure at ambient conditions as with the dry surface sample for a period of 6 days.

WET SURFACE:

A sample of dry concrete block was submerged in a container of cool tap water for a period of 24 hours. The sample was then removed and placed into a second container of cool tap water whereas the surface of the concrete remained approximately ¼” above the water level of the container. Any visual water residue was removed with a paper towel and coat of Super Seal was applied directly to the concrete surface using a brush to 5 – 7 mils thick using a brush. Aluminum test disc were then placed upon the wet Super Seal and the allowed to cure at ambient conditions as with the dry surface sample for a period of 6 days. The concrete block remained in the pool of water approximately ¼” below the surface during this curing period.

On the 7th day all three samples were subject to reverse pressure by pulling up on the disc with a portable adhesion tester that would measure the amount of pressure needed to remove the disc from the concrete substrate of each sample. Three discs were used on each sample as to give an average of pressure exerted to remove the disc for each sample. This pulling / removal technique was in accordance with the ASTM D4541-95.

RESULTS:

The results of the three substrates that were exposed to three different humidity / moisture contents before and during the cure varied. The wetter the surface the less the amount of pressure was needed to remove the test dolly from the substrate. The dry sample proved to be the best for adhesion due to the penetration of the Super Seal being the greatest into the block substrate prior to curing / gelling. This penetration allowed for a greater amount of the substance to be saturated with the Super Seal thusly creating a more positive bind to the concrete. The result, as shown in Diagram A-2 showed an average pressure of 730 PSI (lbs per square inch) was required to remove the test disc from the dry sample.

The damp sample also showed amazing adhesion even though the surface was damp with moisture and minimized the penetration of the Super Seal to the substrate. Per the diagram A-2 it took an average pressure of 320 PSI (lbs per square inch) to remove the test disc from the damp sample.

The wet sample showed amazing adhesion even though throughout the curing cycle, the cement block substrate was saturated with water continually. The Super Seal still was able to penetrate through the wet surface and migrate on the block surface, bind and cure. As shown in diagram A-2 it took an average pressure of 265 PSI (lbs per square inch) to remove the test disc from the wet sample.

As shown in Picture #1, a test disc that was removed from one of the test cement block was removed only after pulling the concrete from the sample itself. None of the disc delaminated from the tests surfaces without pulling off the surface of the concrete block itself. The Super Seal stayed intact on all three concrete test samples and showed no failure between the test disc and the concrete surface the Super Seal was put upon.

As shown in Picture #2, this is a cross section showing the penetration power of the Super Seal into a concrete surface that was cross cut after curing. It shows the Super Seal Primer penetration down into the solid concrete block creating a barrier to help prevent moisture from being forced upward to the coating upon the surface and causing the coating to typically lift, peel or flake from the surface. Creating a barrier within the concrete substrate forces upward hydrostatic moisture to move in the path of least resistance. This would mean that moisture could still flow through the substrate but in a path that would offer least resistance, namely “sideways” or off to an edge of the substrate or an area that does have the Super Seal penetrated within the cement.

Our Super Sealer is the product all other coatings do not have. Our coatings have the advantage of adhering to most all substrates through a chemical bond, not just a mechanical bond. Our products are specifically formulated to bond to one another creating superior and lasting performance.