ECO-ETCH PRO CONCRETE ETCHER & ACID CLEANER

Industrial Strength Acid Etcher & Acid Cleaner for Unsealed Cementitious Surfaces

THE PROBLEM WITH CONCRETE ACID ETCHING:

Effectively removing potential bond breakers and unsightly contaminants for proper concrete surface preparation can be quite troublesome, especially when you are trying to do it with weaker diluted acid blends and cleaners. Using the strongest hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid) is generally preferred by applicators, however it is highly corrosive to metals and releases a toxic acidic mist that is quite dangerous. If this mist or the acid itself comes into contact with your eyes, internal organs, or skin, the damage is often irreversible. Disposing of muriatic acid is a hazardous material unless properly neutralized with a baking soda mixture and achieving proper pH levels. Runoff of improperly neutralized acid will kill vegetation. To properly and safely protect the applicator, one must wear respiratory equipment, eye and skin protective safety gear. Unfortunately, who really does that? Many municipalities are also beginning to prohibit the use of hydrochloric acid for concrete surface preparation on public projects because of these dangers.

When you consider the potential harm to the user and the environment, its just not worth the risks. Additionally, unless you are an experienced applicator, you run the risk of creating uneven or undesirable etching patterns which may complicate subsequent stain or coating application. So what about the weaker acid blends, aren't they safe? They are indeed safer, but you read the labels. What we hear from professionals is that they don't have time to redo work because its not strong enough. Time is money. So while the preference may be to use muriatic acid because of its strength, they understand that liability is costly whether its property damage or accidental employee injuries. With our Eco-Etch Pro Concrete Etcher and Cleaner, this dilemma is a thing of the past.

MULTIPLE USES:

Use it to etch concrete surfaces to achieve a CSP1 to CSP2 profile. It effectively removes non-crystallized surface efflorescence, calcium deposits, mortar deposits, and will break down dried cement of tools and equipment. Use it to remove light rust, dirty tile grout, and even calcium build up around hvac or plumbing fixtures.

HOW TO USE & APPLY THE CONCRETE ETCHER:

Prior to application, if you are aware that their is a barrier or sealer on the concrete or masonry surface being etched, it must be removed completely so the solution can make contact with the calcium and lime present. If you are unsure perform a pre-test. PRE-TEST: Always perform a test patch to determine sufficient dwell time (5-15 minutes), etch level (minimum CSP-1), and substrate compatibility. The solution must remain wet during the dwell time. If foaming does not occur, a barrier or lack of calcium and lime is present. Barriers must be removed prior to etching. The etching process must achieve a foam reaction and create small micro-pits with open pores. DO NOT PROCEED UNLESS FOAMING REACTION OCCURS. Repeat the process on smooth areas where pores are not visible or water does not readily absorb. If you follow these directions and there is calcium content in the concrete, you will surely achieve your objective.

Perform your project in small sections as determined by manpower, temperature, and environmental conditions to avoid premature drying of the material. Cover and/or pre-wet vegetation if runoff or accidental overspray is expected. Unlike conventional acids, Eco-Etch neutralizes immediately when in contact with water. Apply full strength liberally with a pump sprayer at about 200 sq.ft. per gallon. Immediately scrub the material evenly with a hard bristle brush or floor machine with brush attachment, black stripping pad and/or 36 to 60-grit sanding disc. Re-wet if necessary, as the material must remain wet during the dwell time, generally between 5 to no more than 15 minutes depending on the density of the concrete and amount of surface profiling desired. Eco-Etch Pro may also be used for dust mitigation and resin disc lubrication if using a diamond grinder. The solution will help prolong pad life while enhancing etching action of dense concrete. Eco-Etch Pro may be diluted up to 3:1 with water only if used for light cleaning or minimal etching.

EFFLORESCENCE CLEANING: Before application, determine if the efflorescence or calcium is on the surface and can be scraped with a knife or other scraper. This process will also tell you if it is crystallized or hardened to the point where a sharp object has a hard time releasing the calcium. In this case, mechanical assistance will be required. Use a pump sprayer to distribute the material or dip a hard bristle brush into a bucket of solution then onto the efflorescence that you are trying to remove. If the surface is colorized with a stain or is integrally colored, you should test for color stability in an inconspicuous area before proceeding. The etch solution may be diluted with water up to 3:1 to weaken the reaction if the color is aging. Be sure that the efflorescence is on top and not actually below a clear sealer or coating material. If the solution does not foam, it is not reacting because either there is a barrier or the calcium has hardened and crystallized. Let the solution do the work. Adjust the dwell time and dilution ratio until optimum results are realized.

NEUTRALIZE & CLEAN: Power wash or scrub with water to neutralize and wet vacuum to remove concrete dust residue. Unlike hydrochloric acid, our organic acid pH neutralizes completely with water. You do not need baking soda. The runoff is 100% biodegradable and will not harm vegetation. Repeat rinse and clean if necessary to remove all concrete dust residue.