Why has my concrete gone white?

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asked Dec 10, 2023 in Maintenance/Repairs by Kyleroof (2,800 points)
Why has my concrete gone white?

1 Answer

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answered Sep 16 by JorelFlorke (10,500 points)
Concrete that has gone white is most often caused by the concrete losing moisture or concrete sealer losing moisture.

When moisture evaporates from the concrete it then leaves behind a white and powdery substance on the concrete and low temperatures and humidity as well as condensation an drain can lead to the concrete turning white after the moisture comes into contact with the concrete and then evaporates.

You can use xylene on concrete sealer to rejuvenate dull or whitened concrete and concrete sealer.

Xylene can also be used to remove concrete sealer although you will have to first remove any signs of chipping or peeling from the surface and then use Xylene to remove the water based sealer.

Then pressure wash the surface and then allow it to completely dry.

Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that occurs naturally in petroleum and coal tar and is a constituent of smoke from most combustion sources

The raw materials for the production of p-xylene are ethylene and 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF).

The raw materials for the production of p-xylene are 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and ethylene.

Xylene dissolves paint, grease, greasy stains, enamels, resins, glue, candle wax, varnish, PVC, HDPE, printing inks and other compounds.

Xylene as well as Toluene will dissolve candle wax and can remove candle wax from surfaces.

Xylene will also dissolve PVC as well as HDPE and even Acetone will dissolve PVC at high concentrations.

A good substitute for Xylene is Polychem 36 which does not create any hazardous waste and can be used several times and is even recyclable.

Xylene is also used in and is crucial in the production of industrial paints and car and automotive paint as it reduces the viscosity of paint and enhances the flow and leveling which leads to a smooth and even coat of paint when applied to a surface.

Xylene evaporates pretty fast and usually takes around 2 days to fully evaporate the Xylene.

When xylene gets into the environment it is broken down by sunlight into other less harmful chemicals within a few days and becomes less toxic.

However if trapped in the soil the Xylene could seep into the water table and affect groundwater supplies.

Xylene is bad for the environment and has a high acute or short term toxicity to aquatic life and causes injury to agricultural and ornamental crops.

The reason xylene is a bad solvent for extraction is because xylene is highly flammable even at room temperature and so it is a fire hazard and is insoluble in water but also mixes readily with many organic solvents.

Breathing Xylene even for a short time affects the central nervous system, causing dizziness, sleepiness, irritability or confusion.

Other symptoms of Xylene exposure are headache, upset stomach, coordination problems and irritated eyes, skin, nose and throat.

Breathing very high levels of Xylene can cause unconsciousness and even death.

Xylene does explode if placed in a fire when in it's closed container.

Xylene is also very flammable at room temperature; therefore, it constitutes a fire hazard.

It is insoluble in water, but mixes readily with many organic solvents.

Xylene is used for a solvent and cleaning agent such as in leather0-00 production, rubber production, printing, paint thinners and varnishes.

Xylene does evaporate clean and easily and most Xylene that gets into water and soil often goes into the air where it is then broken down by sunlight into less harmful chemicals within a few days.

Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon widely used in industry and medical technology as a solvent.

Xylene is a colorless, sweet-smelling liquid or gas occurring naturally in petroleum, coal and wood tar, and is so named because it is found in crude wood spirit.

The Xylene is primarily used as a solvent (a liquid that can dissolve other substances) in the printing, rubber, and leather industries.

Along with other solvents, xylene is also widely used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and in varnishes.

Breathing xylene vapors in small amounts can cause headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea. With more serious exposure, xylene can cause sleepiness, stumbling, irregular heartbeat, fainting, or even death.

Xylene vapors are mildly irritating to the skin, eyes, and lungs.

The xylene molecule is a type of chemical which has the formula C6H4(CH3)2.

Acetone has is a smaller molecule with the molecular weight of 58.08 g/mol.

Xylene is a larger molecule with the molecular weight of 106.168 g/mol.

The acetone molecule is a type of ketone.

The best way to apply xylene is by flooding it onto the surface with an industrial metal pump-up sprayer.

If enough is applied, the xylene should melt the sealer through to the surface of the concrete before it evaporates.

In conclusion, applying xylene is a great, inexpensive way to rejuvenate dull or whitened sealer.

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