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Duro-nox is applied in the same way as other concrete hardeners, though it is best to read the Duro-nox Technical Data Sheet and/or User Guide prior to application. Surfaces must be clean and free of standing water and contaminants prior to application. Apply Duro-nox to the clean concrete surface to the point of saturation using the Reid PRIMER hand sprayer and an 8004LP spray tip. Allow Duro-nox to penetrate and react with the concrete for a minimum of 30 minutes (longer the better - but must keep wet), re-spraying with Duro-nox in areas that begin to dry out. After this time, spray a light mist of water on to the Duro-nox, and spread out puddles with a squeegee, moving material from low spots to high spots. At this stage, Duro-nox will begin to dry out and form a slippery gel (be careful of slipping). Rinse thoroughly with water and squeegee off to remove, then allow to dry. When Duro-nox dries on the surface of concrete, it will leave a white stain that is very difficult to remove. This is unreacted liquid silicate and alkali material which has bonded to the hardened Is Duro-nox a Lithium Silicate hardener? What are they? Duro-nox is available in a lithium silicate formulation called Duro-nox LS. Lithium silicate technology works in a similar way to normal silicate based concrete hardeners in that it reacts with free lime. However, the reaction’s by-products are slightly different, and this technology can cost as much as three times the cost of conventional concrete floor hardeners. The benefits are that it is less alkali so more environmentally friendly, it has a higher coverage rate and it does not need to be rinsed from the surface at the end of the treatment.
Is Duro-nox different from Ashford Formula/Diamond Hard/Seal Hard? Duro-nox is based on similar liquid silicate chemistry to all of these products, but different additives assist with better penetration and spreading properties, especially when compared to the major competitor products. However, Duro-nox is unique in that it has a 100% compatibility guarantee with a market leading bond breaker (Silcoseal Select), giving peace of mind on tilt-up projects.
Will Duro-nox peel or wear off over time? Duro-nox is a treatment rather than a coating. It does not form a layer on the concrete’s surface that can be peeled off, rather, it penetrates into the concrete and reacts with free lime to form calcium silcates - the components in concrete which give it it’s strength. This occurs within the top 2-3mm of the concrete, providing nothing to peel off or flake other than the concrete itself. Because Duro-nox acts to harden the concrete, the floor becomes more resistant to abrasion, reducing wear of the concrete floor when exposed to traffic.
How does Duro-nox make the concrete harder? When concrete sets, cement reacts with water to form hydrated calcium silicates and other compounds to make it hard. There is always excess “free lime” (calcium hydroxide) formed as cement reacts with water, and this remains in the concrete pores and structure. Duro-nox reacts with this free lime to form hydrated calcium silicates (the hard part of concrete), increasing their proportion at the concrete’s surface and making it harder than it would have been otherwise. How does Duro-nox make a concrete floor “non-dusting”? An excess of free lime is produced during normal hydration of cement as concrete sets. This free lime will react with carbon dioxide in the air over time to produce calcium carbonate, commonly known as “chalk”. Chalk is soft and dusty, and this is abraded from the concrete through traffic giving it a “dusty” feel. Duro-nox reacts with and consumes free lime at the concrete surface and replaces it with hard calcium silicates. This prevents the formation of chalk and makes the concrete “non-dusting”.
Does Duro-nox need to be scrubbed into the surface like other liquid silicate hardeners? Duro-nox has been specially formulated with chemical additives that prevent coagulation of the material once it has been applied to the concrete surface. Unlike many other silicate hardeners, Duro-nox will stay in place until it dries if allowed to. Scrubbing is only required once it has been lightly misted with water to reactivate it in the second stage of application.
Can Duro-nox be used on precast panels and paving slabs? Yes, though for practical reasons it may be easier to apply Duro-nox once the precast paving slabs are in place horizontally. Given the absence of traffic in typical vertical panel applications, it is unlikely that Duro-nox will be required for such duties.
Can Duro-nox be used on coloured concrete surfaces? Yes, but care must be taken where the coloured concrete has used white cements. The white cements are typically ground finer, and so are much more reactive than standard Portland type cements. This means Duro-nox can react too quickly and rapidly form a “gel”, which can be difficult to remove. Duro-nox LS is a better option. Duro-nox LS is a lithium silicate based product which is better suited to the higher reactivity and will better display the concrete colour.
Does Duro-nox come with a performance warranty? A 20 year performance warranty is available with Duro-nox, but this must be applied for PRIOR to application of Duro-nox, and a warranty application form must be completed and submitted following Can Duro-nox be used in hot/cold conditions, and will this effect performance? For best results, Duro-nox should be applied at concrete surface temperatures of between 8°C and below 38°C. At temperatures below this range, the reaction rate of Duro-nox will be so slow that it will not achieve any realistic hardening of the concrete surface. At temperatures above this range, the Duro-nox will dry out too rapidly, stopping the reaction and leaving white blotchy staining.
In what applications is Duro-nox typically used? Duro-nox is used to treat concrete floors that are subject to high volumes of traffic, especially heavy and abrasive loads. This can include retail centres, supermarkets, hardware stores, factories and warehouses, heavy machinery workshops, car parks, loading bays and distribution centres.
How long does it take Duro-nox to develop its’ shiny/glossy finish? The glossy finish of silicate hardened floors is developed through wear from traffic, leaving the hardened concrete behind. The time for this to develop will depend on the volume of traffic, which is often irregularly distributed over the surface. For immediate gloss, use Duro-Polish Plus.
Duro-Polish Plus: Frequently Asked Questions Duro-Polish Plus is a synthetic polymer floor polish that penetrates the concrete surface of Duro-nox treated floors, reacting with free lime to bind to the inside of concrete pores. Duro-Polish Plus provides exceptional stain blocking and slip resistance, and is not easily worn off the surface.
How well does Duro-Polish Plus protect against concrete stains? 24 hour expsoure tests show Duro-Polish Plus prevents stains to concrete from motor oil, sauces, vinegar, red wine and other materials. Many of these products are acidic in nature and will “acid etch” concrete, even liquid silicate treated concrete, if not properly protected.
Does applying Duro-Polish Plus make the concrete slippery? No, the opposite is true. Duro-Polish Plus actually improves the coefficient of friction, the common measure of the slip hazard (or slipperiness) of floors.
Doesn’t the high gloss wear off quickly through traffic, scuffing and scratches? No. Duro-Polish Plus forms a durable floor treatment that can last years before re-application is required, depending on traffic. In addition, Duro-Polish Plus does not require buffing to maintain its gloss. However, buffing will remove scratches and scuff marks from the floor and restore the its’ Is Duro-Polish Plus safe to use for applicators, and does it smell bad? Duro-Polish Plus has negligible odour and can be used in confined spaces, however, good industrial hygiene practices should always be followed. Duro-Polish Plus is not classified as a dangerous good, nor is it classed as hazardous according to the Australian NOHSC.
Consult the Duro-Polish Plus technical data sheet or User Guide for full instructions. In summary, Duro-Polish Plus must be applied over concrete surfaces which are a minimum of 28 days old, and have been treated with Duro-nox a minimum of 48 hours prior to application of Duro-Polish Plus. The solution to be applied is diluted 2 parts Duro-Polish Plus with 1 part water. Spray the diluted solution onto the concrete at a rate of approximately 12 - 36 m2/lt, and spread with a micro-fibre cloth. Allow the product to dry, and then apply a second coat. If an immediate gloss finish is required, buff using a high speed burnisher (2000rpm) with a white microfibre pad. Do not over burnish or the Duro-Polish How is Duro-Polish Plus re-applied over previously treated floors? Provided the surface is clean and hasn’t become “gummy/tacky”, Duro-Polish Plus can be applied directly over previous treatments of Duro-Polish Plus. Where the surface is gummy or tacky, the old Duro-Polish Plus needs to be completely removed prior to re-application. This can be done by treating and scrubbing with an ammonia or amine based detergent. Once removed, use the same application procedure for a new Duro-Polish Plus treatment.

Source: http://www.reid.com.au/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/Download%20Docs/Chem/General/Duronox%20FAQs.pdf