Stones are the naturally available materials and are used from the ancient times in the civil construction. None of the stones are like other in this world in terms of look, chemistry and properties – this makes the stone beautiful and demand in increasing the aesthetic of the structures. Molten rocks below the earth called magma and, on the surface, called lava when solidified forms igneous rocks like granite, Quartz, Obsidian, Pumas, etc. Blend of organic materials when eroded, broken down through the action of glaciers, rivers, wind, oceans and plants forms rock beds (carbonates) called Sedimentary Stones like lime stone, Sandstone Gypsum, Conglomerate, Travertine, etc. Transformation of a pre-existing rocks in a process called metamorphism, which means change in form creates the Metamorphic Stones like Slate, Marble, etc. Apart of these natural stones, artificial stones are also available in market which are made from the mixture of natural stones, resin and hardeners.
In present market, stone are available in polished finish, Tumbled finish, Sand blasted finish, Flamed rough finish, Bush-Hammered finish, etc. Client / architects now popularizing the use of stone more and more in their project and buildings, and this creates the additional demand for stone care products like cleaners and sealers.
Let see some of the types of sealers available in the present markets and how they are classified:
In present market, stone are available in polished finish, Tumbled finish, Sand blasted finish, Flamed rough finish, Bush-Hammered finish, etc. Client / architects now popularizing the use of stone more and more in their project and buildings, and this creates the additional demand for stone care products like cleaners and sealers.
Let see some of the types of sealers available in the present markets and how they are classified:
A. Famous in market by name:
1. Penetrating sealer: They penetrates the surface of the stone up to some depth and seals the surface making stains to repel when spills. These sealers are absorbed by the stone. These sealers are recommended for exterior applications, thick stones, smooth or polished stone types such as granite or marble. These sealers usually take times to dry as they shall have sufficient time to penetrate in the stone. These sealers are of 2 kinds:
a. Enhancing sealers: They sealers enhance or darken the color stones. These sealers are not right for the polished stones.
b. Natural look sealers: They create a thin coating on the surface of stone without effecting OR leaving the stone looking natural. Natural sealers neither darken the stone nor alter the color or provide a sheen of any kind. Natural sealers are perfect for polished stone.
2. Topical Finishing / Coating sealer: These sealers will create a layer and bonds the surface of the stone. They are used for interior use, textured surfaces. These sealers provide wet or glossy finish on to the stone. These sealers are of 2 kinds:
a. Wet look sealers: They seal the surface of the stone and make the stone to look like wet. These sealers are not suitable for polished stones.
b. Glossy look sealer: They are the best suitable sealers to seal the stone with glossy finish and saves the cost, time and effort of grinding and polishing process.
B. As per the safety concern:
1. Solvent based sealers: They are very famous type of sealer from the past time for sealing the surface of stones. They are flammable in nature. Becomes thicker in cold temperature.
2. Water based sealers: As the technology developed, sealers were formulated with water and named as water-based sealer. They are not flammable in nature. Becomes thicker in cold temperature.
In both the cases, the polymer is the chemicals which plays important role of sealing the stone surface. This polymer needs something as carrier to move in the stone or to float on the stone. Say, solvent or water, when polymer reaches the destination, these carriers i.e. water or solvent evaporates leaving polymer in place. Both sealer can be applied using brush / roller / spray. Both good to UV resistance and durability. They can be used in interior as well as exterior applications. Solvent based sealers often have a higher VOC (volatile organic compound) rating than Water-based sealers. Solvent based sealers dry faster than the water-based sealers. Silicone content depends on the manufacturer’s formulation.
C. Silicon based sealers: Silicon based sealers when applied, increases the life and protect them from staining, spalling, cracking which usually caused by absorption of water. Silicones function by imparting durable water repellent film on the surface of capillary pores on stones about 1.5-3mm depending on the surface porosity.
1. Class A: They are of silicone formulations contain silicone-oxygen-silicone and hydrocarbon groups and are used for natural and cast stone masonry of a predominantly siliceous nature.
2. Class B: They are of silicone solution in a voltaic solvent or an aqueous emulsion and are used are for natural and cast stone masonry of a predominantly calcareous nature and calcium silicates nature.
3. Class C: They are of aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt of silicone and non-volatile content and are used for natural and cast stone masonry of a predominantly calcareous nature.
A good stone sealer shall be resilient to everyday cleaners and contaminates and not break down for long time. Stone sealers should not absorb dirt and stains when left on stone for long time. Stones like limestone, travertine and marble are sensitive to acids say cleaners, liquid contaminants, acidic / alkaline food items like vinegar, lemons, pickles, tea, coffee, etc. sealer applied stones can resist the effect up to some extent depending on the type of sealer used. Sealer must work on the stone as well as on the joint grout surface similarly. At exposed conditions, sealer must protect from the rain, wind carrying carbon-dioxide, stains, harmful chemicals and UV rays. Regular house-keeping with non-acidic cleaners or heavy-duty stone cleaners can safeguard the installed stones.
Good practice manufacturer of sealer shall test their sealer at the formulation and development stage and provides the results for the following test as per the standards while promoting to the market as follows:
1. ASTM D 3960 / IS 101 - PART 01 Sec 7 – PART 02 Sec 2: Volatile mater, specific gravity and VOC.
2. IS 13603: PART 8 – Resistance to staining. Resistance to house hold chemicals and swimming pool water cleansers except to cleaning agents containing hydrofluoric acids and its compounds. Resistance to acids and alkaline (with the exceptions of hydrofluoric acids and its compounds).
3. UNE-EN ISO 12572 - Determination of water vapor transmission properties, Water vapour permeability.
4. BS EN 13755 / UNE-EN 13755 - Determination of water absorption.
5. UNE-EN ISO 10545:14 - Stain resistance test.
6. BS EN 1925 / UNE-EN 1925 - Determination of water absorption coefficient by capillarity.
7. UNE-EN 1504-2 and UNE-EN 14630 - Depth of penetration test.
8. IS 3495:PART3 – Efflorescence test.
9. IS 12027 – For silicone-based sealer – Early water repellence, Water absorption, Evaporation of water and Durability test.
Last one more point to be noted is that, the stones protected from the top, also needs to be protected from bottom. I.e., from the rising dampness / moisture / chemicals from the substrate. If not, efflorescence, water marks, white patches, warping, buckling of stone may happens. So, always apply under stone primer to the bottom surface of the stone and all other sides (except, the top surface) prior to the installation.
Finally, considering “Prevention is better than cure” let us choose and apply correct sealer, in time, as per the stone nature to increase the beauty of the space for providing looooong pleasant time for occupants.
a. Enhancing sealers: They sealers enhance or darken the color stones. These sealers are not right for the polished stones.
b. Natural look sealers: They create a thin coating on the surface of stone without effecting OR leaving the stone looking natural. Natural sealers neither darken the stone nor alter the color or provide a sheen of any kind. Natural sealers are perfect for polished stone.
2. Topical Finishing / Coating sealer: These sealers will create a layer and bonds the surface of the stone. They are used for interior use, textured surfaces. These sealers provide wet or glossy finish on to the stone. These sealers are of 2 kinds:
a. Wet look sealers: They seal the surface of the stone and make the stone to look like wet. These sealers are not suitable for polished stones.
b. Glossy look sealer: They are the best suitable sealers to seal the stone with glossy finish and saves the cost, time and effort of grinding and polishing process.
B. As per the safety concern:
1. Solvent based sealers: They are very famous type of sealer from the past time for sealing the surface of stones. They are flammable in nature. Becomes thicker in cold temperature.
2. Water based sealers: As the technology developed, sealers were formulated with water and named as water-based sealer. They are not flammable in nature. Becomes thicker in cold temperature.
In both the cases, the polymer is the chemicals which plays important role of sealing the stone surface. This polymer needs something as carrier to move in the stone or to float on the stone. Say, solvent or water, when polymer reaches the destination, these carriers i.e. water or solvent evaporates leaving polymer in place. Both sealer can be applied using brush / roller / spray. Both good to UV resistance and durability. They can be used in interior as well as exterior applications. Solvent based sealers often have a higher VOC (volatile organic compound) rating than Water-based sealers. Solvent based sealers dry faster than the water-based sealers. Silicone content depends on the manufacturer’s formulation.
C. Silicon based sealers: Silicon based sealers when applied, increases the life and protect them from staining, spalling, cracking which usually caused by absorption of water. Silicones function by imparting durable water repellent film on the surface of capillary pores on stones about 1.5-3mm depending on the surface porosity.
1. Class A: They are of silicone formulations contain silicone-oxygen-silicone and hydrocarbon groups and are used for natural and cast stone masonry of a predominantly siliceous nature.
2. Class B: They are of silicone solution in a voltaic solvent or an aqueous emulsion and are used are for natural and cast stone masonry of a predominantly calcareous nature and calcium silicates nature.
3. Class C: They are of aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt of silicone and non-volatile content and are used for natural and cast stone masonry of a predominantly calcareous nature.
A good stone sealer shall be resilient to everyday cleaners and contaminates and not break down for long time. Stone sealers should not absorb dirt and stains when left on stone for long time. Stones like limestone, travertine and marble are sensitive to acids say cleaners, liquid contaminants, acidic / alkaline food items like vinegar, lemons, pickles, tea, coffee, etc. sealer applied stones can resist the effect up to some extent depending on the type of sealer used. Sealer must work on the stone as well as on the joint grout surface similarly. At exposed conditions, sealer must protect from the rain, wind carrying carbon-dioxide, stains, harmful chemicals and UV rays. Regular house-keeping with non-acidic cleaners or heavy-duty stone cleaners can safeguard the installed stones.
Good practice manufacturer of sealer shall test their sealer at the formulation and development stage and provides the results for the following test as per the standards while promoting to the market as follows:
1. ASTM D 3960 / IS 101 - PART 01 Sec 7 – PART 02 Sec 2: Volatile mater, specific gravity and VOC.
2. IS 13603: PART 8 – Resistance to staining. Resistance to house hold chemicals and swimming pool water cleansers except to cleaning agents containing hydrofluoric acids and its compounds. Resistance to acids and alkaline (with the exceptions of hydrofluoric acids and its compounds).
3. UNE-EN ISO 12572 - Determination of water vapor transmission properties, Water vapour permeability.
4. BS EN 13755 / UNE-EN 13755 - Determination of water absorption.
5. UNE-EN ISO 10545:14 - Stain resistance test.
6. BS EN 1925 / UNE-EN 1925 - Determination of water absorption coefficient by capillarity.
7. UNE-EN 1504-2 and UNE-EN 14630 - Depth of penetration test.
8. IS 3495:PART3 – Efflorescence test.
9. IS 12027 – For silicone-based sealer – Early water repellence, Water absorption, Evaporation of water and Durability test.
Last one more point to be noted is that, the stones protected from the top, also needs to be protected from bottom. I.e., from the rising dampness / moisture / chemicals from the substrate. If not, efflorescence, water marks, white patches, warping, buckling of stone may happens. So, always apply under stone primer to the bottom surface of the stone and all other sides (except, the top surface) prior to the installation.
Finally, considering “Prevention is better than cure” let us choose and apply correct sealer, in time, as per the stone nature to increase the beauty of the space for providing looooong pleasant time for occupants.
See some the best sealer applications:
https://annayyachandrashekar.blogspot.in/2017/12/fc-ss-natural-look-providing-sealer-for.html
https://annayyachandrashekar.blogspot.in/2017/10/heavy-duty-impregnating-tile-stone.html
https://annayyachandrashekar.blogspot.in/2017/10/heavy-duty-impregnating-tile-stone.html
A lot of important informations. Thanks for publishing!
ReplyDeleteThanks For Related My Information and pls visit my website Markat Stone
ReplyDelete