Pavement Repair: Concrete Corroded by Sugar...

How about quick-set concrete screed, sealed with floor paint? This Globalspec search will give you some leads.

I just want to say that cement corrosion by suggar results from the fact that suggar is saccharrose, with 10 or so adjacent alcohol functions,whereas cement is mainly calcium silicoaluminate,and suggar dissolves calcium ions as a chelate.
Once, at the time of acétylen lamps, suggar was added to the lamp's water, to dissolve the calcium ions resulting from the hydrolysis of calcium carbide.
For the repair of a cement soil, charged polyurethane is efficient.
There is no reaction between suggar and polyurethane or epoxydes, although certainly suggar reacts with the diisocyanate involved in polyurethane cure

I had the same problem with the weighbridge installation at a large sugar refinery in South London. The sugar had corroded the concrete foundations of the weighbridge pits and we had to excavate the old concrete using aqua-demolition, (high pressure water jets), rebuild drains etc and re-lay the foundations using epoxy resin screed and get the weighbridges back in use in 72 hours - in December!!!

Before we started, we had a complete plan of action, (the job needed 2 big cranes and a lot of manpower to move the 20 metre decks out of an enclosed building. You may have to move tanks/machinery if their foundations are affected - you will need electrical/mechanical people to dismantle/reconnect services, etc. and somewhere safe to lay-apart the removed equipment. Getting access to the total floor area will save time in the end and give a more reliable repair. Unless you remove completely all the old contaminated surfaces you are wasting your time as the new surface will be undermined and weakened.

The aqua blaster uses massive quantities of water over several hours and the rubble has to be removed. The surfaces then have to be dried completely before you can do repairs and apply sealant. We had lots of halogen radiant heaters set up around the pits to provide heat over a distance and these use a lot of power - we had a portable diesel generator on hire. You may have to erect wind screens or arrange ventilation during the drying process and later stages.

The laying of the epoxy resin screed will take time and the 2-part screed must be properly mixed. Using the halogen heaters again will provide enough heat to speed up the setting process. Finally you can put down tiles and reinstall the tanks and equipment.

I think you will be pushing it to complete the work in 48 hours, but you could plan it over a holiday shut-down, (if you have them). If you are up against a time limit then go over your plan on site with the people involved to ensure that all possible problems are foreseen and everyone knows what they must do on the day.

Good luck

Your answer is Capillary Crystalline Reactive technology.

www.xypex.com or www.kryton.com

This can even be "applied" by drilling holes in an appropriately designed grid pattern, placing the product into the hole and letting the reaction solve the problem. After this has worked one can then remove the tile and install new surfaces. This way you are not shut down at all.

The are not coatings but an impartation of a chemical which creates a crystalline structure to grow within the base concrete. This will fortify the concrete from further attack as well as re-mediate the chemical degradation that has happened.

As to "difficulty #1. These work ONLY if wet.

"Difficulty #2. These are used to increase chemical resistance (from PH 2--12)

HYP1--XYPEX quick setting is called Patch-N-Plug Kryton fast set is available as well

HYP #2. bad idea, will not solve the internal problem and will not bond to compromised substrate

tesla-was-right reply #4 has good links also suggest contact Florock

www.florock.net they may handle the complete job in house.

The same thing happens in citrus plant floors To correct this they use lead for grout

I have seen some really good advice above. I would also add that the concrete takes a long, long time to properly cure. It has been said that the the Hoover dam is still curing. Part of he problem is that surgars slow that process. Therefore, if the floor is replaced, make sure that it is sealed well before the tile is laid.

One way to get an answer.

Call Structural Preservations Systems, They are national experts in repairing concrete throughout the USA. I feel certain they will talk with you about materials and application of this issue. They could also contract to repair also.

800-899-1016

or

410-850-7000

There is more to consider than sugar attacking the concrete, when discussing soft drink syrup. First, some of the sugar is degraded to organic acids on the floor. Organic acids chelate the calcium, aluminum and other cations, allowing you to in essence slowly dissolve the concrete. Additionally, softdrink syrup will contain phosphoric acid. Any acid environment will degrade exposed concreter over time. I would not use tile in the room, but rather make it a simple slab and paint the slab with an epoxy coating, or totally cover the concrete to reduce exposure to softdrink syrup.

Rather than use epoxy resin you would be better having a specialist flooring contractor install Polyurethane. This will resist the sugars far longer than epoxy and is the standard for your type of environment.

We have been using resins for over 30 years and PU has been formulated specifically for this.

Hi Domingos,

I work for a U.K based company which can offer you a third option which suits your criteria, It is a quick and simple solution. If you have any queries don't hesitate to contact me.