Experimental verification of the effect of lithium silicate surface treatment on concrete durability

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research focused on the behaviour of lithium silicate sealer as an additional protection of concrete structures against environmental degradation effects. The results are compared with the behaviour of siloxane sealer – an agent commonly used for the protection of concrete structures against environmental effects in practice. The paper presents the results of several tests: contact angle, porosity change and carbonation depth that was determined by accelerated test method. All the mentioned tests lead to a conclusion that siloxane sealer is significantly more efficient in increasing the durability of structures than lithium silicate sealer.