Page 13 - Designing Ways 239

Avoid concrete cracking in dry conditions

ot and windy conditions According to the American Concrete and trowelling operations must be
can lead to plastic shrinkage Institute (ACI), plastic shrinkage cracking conducted to create the required surface
Hcracking on fresh concrete, of concrete is likely to occur whenever the finish. CHRYSO® ProFilm 19 is a water
but CHRYSO® ProFilm 19 can solve this evaporation rate is more than 1 kg per based product which is compliant with
problem, without the addition of extra square metre per hour. The ACI highlights guidelines on volatile organic compounds
water to the concrete mix. that this rate of evaporation can be readily (VOCs).
caused by many combinations of air The effectiveness of the mono-molecular
Avoid concrete cracking in dry temperature, relative humidity, concrete film means that there is no need for water
conditions temperature and wind velocity. spraying on the surface of the concrete
Hot and windy conditions can lead As an evaporation reducer, CHRYSO® in order to slow the evaporation process.
to plastic shrinkage cracking on fresh ProFilm 19 prevents this cracking by It can be used on a range of horizontal
concrete, but CHRYSO® ProFilm 19 can protecting fresh concrete from the effects concrete pours where the evaporation rate
solve this problem, without the addition of excessive moisture loss in rapid drying may exceed the bleeding rate of concrete.
of extra water to the concrete mix. conditions. Furthermore, it can achieve These applications include industrial
One of the dangers of working in low this result without increasing the bleed. floors, roads, bridge decks, slabs, patios,
humidity conditions – even inside heated By spraying this evaporation-reducing driveways and sidewalks.
buildings during cold weather – is the product onto fresh concrete surfaces, CHRYSO® ProFilm 19 is ideal in
rapid evaporation of surface moisture the user creates a continuous mono- concrete applications that produce little
from the concrete. This can cause map molecular film over the concrete, which or no bleed water, such as mixes with low
cracking and plastic shrinkage, where inhibits the rapid loss of bleed water. water content. dw
cracks can penetrate to the full depth of This film lasts as long as the concrete
a concrete slab. remains plastic, even where floating za.chryso.com

dw • Issue 239 13