Hardener and separation component in the manufacture of printed concrete: is it possible to do without them or find a replacement
What can replace the hardener and separation component in the manufacture of printed concrete? Is it possible to do without them?
Pavel
Expert Answer
Hello Paul!
Pigment hardener, which is used in the manufacture of printed concrete, is needed not only to paint its surface in the desired color. This substance penetrates the surface layer of the sand-cement mixture, making it more durable and resistant to atmospheric factors.
To date, a simple and cheap full-fledged replacement for this substance does not exist. Of course, the original composition to reduce the cost of the coating can be replaced with a conventional concrete dye, but only this will not give the appearance and strength that a color hardener from manufacturers like Increte Systems or Green House.
On the Web you can find information that mixing a simple pigment powder with liquid glass gives a good result, but we will not recommend this mixture as a complete replacement for the company hardener due to the lack of practical experience. By the way, you can check the effectiveness of such a recipe and share the results of the experiment with the community.
As for the release agent (topping), it can be successfully replaced with several materials. A good result is obtained using building talcum powder, which gives excellent adhesion and allows you to get a smooth structure. You can use the above-mentioned powder iron oxide pigments, however, in terms of cost, they are not much inferior to the original separator.
If you want to get "a lot, inexpensively and immediately", then you can completely abandon the colored hardener, and replace the topping with ordinary used motor oil. Of course, this will not make it possible to obtain the desired color and texture, but the stamp will still transform simple concrete, make the smooth surface original and expressive.
