Concrete bonding
With the right concrete adhesive, you can bond a wide range of construction materials with different textures to concrete or repair existing concrete structures. Read on to learn about suitable solutions and using concrete bonding adhesive for repairs.
Concrete adhesive serves structural and aesthetic purposes for many projects.
Concrete adhesives can assume many forms, from polyurethane sealants and structural epoxies for concrete to repair mortar and bonding adhesives. Many products are formulated for specific purposes, such as installing insulation material or sealing cracks, and for various layer or gap thicknesses
The right concrete repair adhesive will make this floor look like new.
When selecting your construction adhesive for concrete, check the technical data sheet (TDS) whether it is formulated for vertical and/or horizontal applications, whether it is suitable for your concrete class, which materials it can bond, and how much it will shrink.
If you want to smooth out concrete, fill cracks or gaps, or repair damaged substrates, you need a good concrete repair adhesive, such as a filling compound or repair mortar. Many products are formulated for different layer thicknesses.
For example, use Polybit Polycrete MC for applications between 10 and 250 mm, while a product like Polybit Polycrete FC is ideal for smaller repairs.
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Polyurethane sealants formulated for concrete will also seal joints and gaps in structures like floors and walls.
Many general adhesives bond concrete and other materials. However, concrete bonding adhesives produce better results when used with concrete. Many of them are formulated with specific projects and materials in mind.
This section gives hints on how to use Polybit Polycrete MC to level out concrete surfaces and repair damaged substrates. Before beginning, read your TDS for information such as application temperature and humidity. You can also watch this video from Henkel Polybit, which demonstrates key steps.
- Materials and safety. Wear gloves and safety glasses when applying concrete adhesives. You need clean water, a mixing container, a mixer, a steel/plastic trowel or sponge, tools to mechanically prepare the substrate, and agents to clean the concrete (if necessary).
- Prepare the substrate. Remove any contaminants or standing water. Prepare the substrate mechanically (e.g. abrasive blasting, wire brushing, grounding, or milling).
- Reinforcement. Prepare and treat any reinforcement bars/structures as stated in the TDS.
- Contact layer. Moisten the substrate and apply the contact layer according to the product instructions.
- Prepare mortar. Using the mixer, mix the contents of the package with water as per the TDS until you have a lump-free mass. Use cold water in warm temperatures.
Once there are no more lumps in your concrete adhesive, you can trowel it onto the substrate.
- Curing. The solution usually features rapid drying. You can help the curing process with a non-degradable type of curing compound or wet hessian cloth.
- Additional protection. Cover the surface of the project with acrylic paints or flexible insulation layers to protect it against water, aggressive agents, corrosion, and other factors.
You can find mortars and other products for masonry on Polybit’s site.