Concrete is the cornerstone of civilizations around the world. The methods used to create concrete have evolved over time and current uses far exceed those of the past.
The amount of concrete used today is double that of essential materials, such as steel, wood, aluminum and plastic, all combined. The use of concrete by humans is second only to the amount of water used on the planet. The essential quality of concrete has been the freedom to allow people to build almost any type of rigid structure, such as a skyscraper or simply a concrete floor for our houses, with relative ease and durability.
Concrete industry:
The global turnover of the concrete industry is about to cross the $100 billion mark by 2015. Globally, the US concrete production industry has a turnover of $30 billion per year.
Modern use:
A new advance of the modern era is reinforced steel, when combined with concrete assemblies it provides greater strength and resistance to stress.
Concrete is widely used as the main ingredient in the construction of architectural structures such as bridges, dams, roads, foundations for buildings, pipelines, wall structures, pavements. Concrete has gained an unavoidable necessity in the infrastructure need of the modern age; it is used in large quantities almost everywhere. The main maintenance techniques include acid staining of concrete which prevents long-term deterioration of concrete. An increasing number of people are opting for polished concrete flooring as a decorative addition and for utility flooring.
Decorative concrete:
Although cement has been around for some time, there have been a lot of improvements with the inclusion of resins with cement and other additives in adequate amounts to improve the performance and aesthetic quality of concrete. Concrete overlays come in various thicknesses, they can be as thin as 0.030 inches. Epoxy is a commonly used component in concrete floor coating techniques. It is the cured end product of epoxy resins and is a preferred industrial adhesive. The main chemical components of these commonly used adhesives are epichlorohydrin, bisphenol-A and triethylenetetramine.
Enhancement of functionality through staining:
Concrete can develop blemishes and hairline cracks over time, with current techniques such as concrete polishing, blemishes can be effectively removed. Epoxy floors can be a good choice for decorative purposes and as a damage control measure to protect floors. There are many concrete flooring companies that offer premium flooring options when it comes to custom flooring designs. Polished concrete forms an earth coloration when subjected to acid staining which gives it the organic coloration after finishing. Proven results from practice include resistance to salt damage, UV exposure, temperature conditions and physical damage.