Reactive penetrating sealers can form a permanent chemical (covalent) bond with the substrate, and will not wear away until the substrate that they soak into wears away. This means they can last many years without any maintenance. They are sometimes called densifiers, because they fill the pores of concrete, making it denser. The increased density blocks out moisture and other damaging agents (salt, oil, grease, etc.). These sealers are great for protecting the concrete from physical damage like freeze/thaw damage, salt damage, cracking, spalling. They will increase resistances to deep stains. Reactive penetrating sealers will not change the appearance of the substrate noticeably- no color enhancement, no gloss. They are typically clear, but some may be tinted. A vast majority of reactive penetrating sealers are water based.
There are four main types of reactive penetrating sealers:
Silane |
long lasting (10-25 years), most expensive, deepest penetrating – often more than is necessary, can cause discoloration Our Sealer(s): Industra-Seal 40, Industra-Seal 100 |
Silicate |
long lasting (10-25 years), best for applications where the concrete will be polished (diamond grinder or floor buffer) Our Sealer(s): Industra-Seal 117A, Phase II, Industra-Seal 117PLS |
Siliconate |
long lasting (10-25 years), best for blocking moisture and/or curing new concrete, only cross-linking membrane Our Sealer(s): V-SEAL 101, V-SEAL 102 |
Siloxane |
shortest wear life (3-5 years), least penetrating, can be replaced by siliconate for a longer wear life, often called silane-siloxane Our Sealer(s): V-STOP |
*In most applications, a siliconate or silicate would be a better choice than a silane or siloxane.
*Silicates can be sodium silicates or lithium silicates. Sodium silicates are cheap and can actually damage concrete. Lithium silicates form a more stable bond with the concrete and are a much better choice.