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Defining Osmotic Blisters and Causes in Resinous Floor Coatings

Understanding the key components that cause osmotic blisters is essential to not only applying the proper concrete floor coating, but potentially walking away from a possible high-risk floor. Resinous floor coatings are organic coatings that have limitations. Coating failures are typically linked to moisture in the concrete slab. This can be a problem for resinous floor coatings that aren't moisture tolerant. 

Product Number: 41215-898-SG
Author: Marcus Gray
Publication Date: 2015
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Understanding the key components that cause osmotic blisters is essential to not only applying the proper concrete floor coating, but potentially walking away from a possible high-risk floor. Resinous floor coatings are organic coatings that have limitations. Coating failures are typically linked to moisture in the concrete slab. This can be a problem for resinous floor coatings that aren't moisture tolerant. However, there are cases when moisture tolerant coatings fail. The combination of the concrete surface (semi-permeable membrane), moisture, soluble salts/ions, and non-breathable coatings creates the osmotic cell with pressures that can exceed the adhesion strength of the coating. When the pressure exceeds the adhesion strength, blisters will occur. Concrete has natural levels of Sodium (Na+), Potassium(K+) and Chloride (Cl-). These ions are typically found at low levels in sand, gravel, and Portland cement, the essential ingredients in concrete. Additionally, these same ions can be found in the soil as well as concrete surface densifiers and chemical hardeners. Elevated levels of these soluble ions and/or salts at the bond line along with moisture generate pressures that can cause a resinous coating to blister. I argue more can be done to properly diagnose a concrete slab that has a potential high risk of failure caused by osmotic blistering.

Understanding the key components that cause osmotic blisters is essential to not only applying the proper concrete floor coating, but potentially walking away from a possible high-risk floor. Resinous floor coatings are organic coatings that have limitations. Coating failures are typically linked to moisture in the concrete slab. This can be a problem for resinous floor coatings that aren't moisture tolerant. However, there are cases when moisture tolerant coatings fail. The combination of the concrete surface (semi-permeable membrane), moisture, soluble salts/ions, and non-breathable coatings creates the osmotic cell with pressures that can exceed the adhesion strength of the coating. When the pressure exceeds the adhesion strength, blisters will occur. Concrete has natural levels of Sodium (Na+), Potassium(K+) and Chloride (Cl-). These ions are typically found at low levels in sand, gravel, and Portland cement, the essential ingredients in concrete. Additionally, these same ions can be found in the soil as well as concrete surface densifiers and chemical hardeners. Elevated levels of these soluble ions and/or salts at the bond line along with moisture generate pressures that can cause a resinous coating to blister. I argue more can be done to properly diagnose a concrete slab that has a potential high risk of failure caused by osmotic blistering.

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