The sulfuric acid dissolves the carbonates in the hardened cement paste (HCP), and also calcium hydroxide (portlandite: Ca(OH)2) and calcium silicate hydrate (CaO·SiO2·nH2O), and causes strength loss, as well as producing sulfates which are harmful to concrete.
Phosphoric acid, trisodium phosphate, and muriatic acid all dissolve concrete. Phosphoric acid is the most common acid used for this task. Only use muriatic acid after removing all other acids.
Concrete is one of most durable manmade materials, but even this old industry workhorse has its weaknesses. Exposure to harsh weather, reactions with common elements, and poor construction can all lead to concrete failure.
A chemical filler known as demolition grout, is used to break up concrete without the constant use of jackhammers or cutting equipment. This grout, when placed into holes drilled into concrete, will expand. The expansion causes cement to weaken and eventually break apart.
The concrete has a high alkaline ph value of 12.5 or higher. When it is exposed to an acid etching process, the acid breaks the balance between alkaline pH and the rest of the materials that make concrete hard and weakens the structure of the concrete.
However, calcium chloride and (to a lesser extent) sodium chloride have been shown to leach calcium hydroxide and cause chemical changes in Portland cement, leading to loss of strength, as well as attacking the steel reinforcement present in most concrete.
The results obtained the greater the addition of citric acid the longer the hardening of concrete and the greater workability of concrete. The maximum value of compressive strength of concrete is in the addition of 0.15% citric acid with an increase in compressive strength of 82.2% of the nominal concrete.
Tool #1: Sledgehammer + Pry Bar
When thinking about breaking up concrete, most of our minds jump straight to jackhammer. But you can probably do the work with a metal sledgehammer and a little elbow grease. Sledgehammer is the best tool to use if the slab of concrete is three inches thick or less.
How Do You Break Hard Concrete? Breaking hard concrete is easier if you undermine its external support, so dig out underneath it if possible, or use a pry bar to lift it a little at a time, so it's weaker when hit with a sledgehammer or other tool.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material. Aside from being an effective cleaner and stain remover, it also acts as a disinfectant to the concrete surface.
What are the most common causes of concrete deterioration? Chemical attack, overloading and impact, carbonation, dry and wet cycling, and fire are major causes of concrete damages.
Sulfuric acid and concrete don't mix. Concrete can stand up to a lot. Sulfuric acid reacts readily with concrete and dissolves the surface area it comes into contact with. The amount of time permanent damage takes depends on the concentration of sulfuric acid.
Vinegar does not dissolve concrete itself but can degrade the cement that binds concrete together. As a weak, dilute acid, vinegar will cause only minor damage to concrete but can take the shine off polished surfaces. It can, however, be used to remove small amounts of cement from tools.
The sulfuric acid reacts first with the calcium hydroxide (CH) to precipitate gypsum (CaSO4 2H2O) on and below the concrete surface, which can induce tensile stresses in concrete, resulting in cracking and spalling [4].
Cement on a floor dissolves in acid, so that's why you can use vinegar. Be very careful with calciferous stone types, such as marble. Marble can be affected by acid.
Gypsum plays an important role in controlling the rate of hardening of the cement. It is added to concrete and cement to slow down the drying time as cement dries quickly.
Salt water has a corrosive effect on concrete, as well as other building materials. So if you're living by the ocean, it's a good idea to take measures towards protecting your property against the effects of salt water from coastal flooding, sea spray and ocean air.
Method 1: Hammer and Chisel
Cutting concrete doesn't always require the use of heavy tools. For cutting small pieces of concrete, like a concrete paver, a hammer and chisel will work just fine. Since most people already own a hammer and chisel, this is one of the most cost-effective ways to cut concrete.
Concrete is vulnerable to stains from such things as lemon juice, wine, or vinegar, no matter what kind of sealer or wax you apply. These and other acidic liquids will eat into the surface of the concrete and etch it away. It is possible to remove individual stains without having to refinish the entire piece.
Concrete can stain when certain acidic substances (e.g., wine, citrus and vinegar) are left unattended for long periods of time (more than 8 hours). We use a proprietary two-step process that significantly reduces the effects of staining.
Citric acid dissolves cement / concrete like you wouldn't believe.
The trick to breaking up concrete is to dig underneath the slab before hitting it with the hammer. Undermining the concrete eliminates its external support, making the material much more vulnerable to cracking through and breaking off.
When water is added to cement, the chemical reaction called hydration takes place and contributes to the final concrete product. The calcium silicates contribute most to the strength of concrete. Tricalcium silicates are responsible for most of the early strength (first seven days).
Despite the signal word danger on most such labels, gardeners may instead just see vinegar and be careless. Sobering details: In concentrations over 11%, acetic acid can burn skin and cause eye damage, and concentrations of 20% and above are corrosive to tin, aluminum, iron, and concrete and can even cause blindness.