Polished concrete is achieved by mechanically grinding, honing, and polishing concrete floor tiles with bonded abrasives to remove the surface of the concrete. With each successive cut, the required degree of look is achieved. In addition, a penetrant chemical known as a hardener is utilized throughout this procedure. The concrete densifier/hardener penetrates the concrete and causes a chemical reaction in order to aid in hardening and dust-proofing the surface. Concrete polishing needs the use of increasingly finer grinding instruments to refine the surface in a series of phases (generally, polished concrete requires at least four grinding steps of processing). 
Industrial diamonds of progressively finer grits are placed in bonded materials such as metal/hybrid/resin to create diamond polishing pads, which are the grinding tools. Polished concrete is a "green" flooring technology that is LEED-approved. Prior to 1600 grit, concrete is not considered polished, and it is commonly completed at 1600 or 3000 grit or above. Polished concrete can be colored with concrete polishing dyes and other techniques, such as scoring, creating radial lines, grids, bands, borders, and other patterns. A floor is honed if the grinding is performed with a grit of less than 1600. In the valley of the Jordan River, in the city of Jericho, the earliest polished concrete has been discovered. According to the Bible, Jericho was destroyed in 1200 B.C. Since then, several concrete levels from previous settlements have been discovered. Among the layers, a polished concrete floor could be found. When the polished concrete floor was discovered, it was being removed to make room for a new racetrack. In 1886 and 1887, retired professor Malinowski from Gothenburg, Sweden, with expertise in concrete, and Israeli archaeologist Garfinkle collected samples of concrete. They determined that the concrete was around 7000 years old BC. According to Malinowski, the subfloor was composed of 6 to 8 cm thick lime concrete. According to him, the concrete was beige-brown in hue with a highly polished surface. Simply simple, concrete polishing is comparable to sanding wood. Using strong polishing equipment, such as a concrete grinder, surfaces are gradually reduced to the desired degree of brilliance and smoothness. Polished marble or granite would be the most comparable material. There are two categories for the installation of polished concrete floors: new floors and retrofit floors. 
There are a few factors to consider before polishing a new concrete floor, but new floors often need less labor and are thus less expensive. First, the mix design of the concrete must be at least 3500 psi. To obtain the full structural strength of the concrete and to prevent cracking, it must always be poured to the maximum depth. Concrete usually requires professional power trowel finishing and a seven-day water cure. Prior to the concrete's complete curing, polishing should not commence (generally 28 days). The ornamental particles in the concrete slab are capable of producing a variety of aesthetic effects. The majority of aggregates are 20mm in size, however, almost anything may be used. To facilitate the polishing process, the finished concrete surface must be polished to a high standard. The Global Concrete Polishing Institute recommends an FF grade of 50 or higher. During the finishing phase, any decorative aggregates, including seashells, glass chips, and even metal car pieces, can be scattered onto the top of the concrete. If the concrete is to be polished, builders must be notified as soon as possible for the best possible finish. A diamond polished concrete floor takes at least six to twelve steps of real grinding, which considerably increases the amount of time necessary. According to the aggregate exposure level and desired gloss level, the typical rule of thumb is to start the initial grinding with a coarse 30/60-grit diamond and finish with a 1600-grit or higher diamond. These segments are composed of metal or resin-bonded segments containing diamonds. Upon completion of the initial grinding process, the grit size of diamonds often doubles. As opposed to a metal section, a 50-grit diamond resin pad is utilized to start the polishing procedure. When utilizing resin pads, the levels maybe 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and finally 3000+ grit. Throughout the process, a densifier is used to harden the concrete's surface, allowing it to be polished. There are several densifiers available, including lithium, potassium, and sodium silicates. In certain cases, a grouting chemical is also employed to fill any holes, fissures, or faults that the original coarse grinding stage exposes. 
Concrete can also be treated with a natural-looking impregnating polish protection that penetrates 2–5mm deep into the pores of the concrete to prevent oil and liquid stains. Furthermore, it is porous and not a sealant (as a sealer actually totally seals the concrete and does not allow vapor transmission). Diverse types of diamond abrasives are utilized to cut the concrete slab. You can either dry or wet polish. In the United States, however, wet refining methods or the use of industrial vacuums are being advocated owing to new OSHA limits on crystalline silica and protecting skilled trades in the concrete, masonry, and brick industries. A densifier can be applied once the concrete has been exposed and is ready to absorb the chemical. The application of the densifier is determined by the slab's hydration. There are several types of densifiers, such as colloidal, lithium, magnesium fluorosilicate, sodium, potassium, and potassium. After the densifier has had sufficient time to dry, cure, and attain the desired hardness, the floor is polished using one or more abrasive cuts to get the desired reflectivity. Polished concrete is a form of sustainable flooring since it utilizes a product that has previously been installed. Among the advantages of polished concrete floors are: Polished concrete requires little upkeep and may be cleaned with water or a solution with a neutral ph. In addition, several cleaners designed exclusively for cleaning polished concrete are widely available. Wax is never required since it dulls the surface finish. It is not slippery because of the high coefficient of friction. Dust-proofing mitigates dust mite and allergy problems and avoids mold development. Reducing the need for artificial lighting, highly reflecting polished concrete may increase ambient lighting by enhancing natural light. 
Prior until today, it was believed that polished concrete floors had a very long lifespan, however, this relied on usage. Under heavy usage, the polished concrete floor begins to degrade. Today, advanced new technologies such as Odus Flooring have replaced polished concrete. Although it resembles polished concrete in appearance, it is substantially more durable and will last at least 10 years. Both new and old concrete surfaces can be utilized. To find out more about the polished concrete flooring tiles contact our sales managers.
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