Coating Selection and Important Properties of Coatings for Concrete

Reasons for Coating Concrete Some reasons for coating concrete are unique to the structures in question while other reasons apply to coating any substructure. The major reasons for coating concrete include • enhancing appearance with respect to colour, gloss, or texture for architectural purposes; • reducing moisture permeability, which can otherwise lead to freeze-thaw damage, rebar corrosion, or other detrimental effects; • controlling dusting related to routine traffic exposure by applying penetrating sealers; • providing slip resistance, often in addition to other properties; • achieving a hard, smooth, glossy surface that is easily cleaned and disinfected; • improving the effectiveness of available lighting with light-reflective pigments; • dissipating static electricity with coatings that contain conductive fillers, such as carbon, to the floors in microchip manufacturing facilities, hospital operating suites, medical research buildings, solvent storage handling areas, and aerosol or powder processing/filling plants; • identifiying aisleways that direct traffic flow, define certain areas, or designate the presence of hazards; • improving thermal resistance with reflective or insulating coatings, provided exposure temperatures do not exceed the thermal resistance of the coatings themselves; and • protecting the substrate from chemical and physical deterioration.