Various mixtures based on liquid glass are often used in the process of repair and during construction work. Can a brick be treated with liquid glass? What is it and how can you work with it at all?
The wall treated with liquid glass has a high resistance to moisture penetration and brick destruction.
Liquid glass and work with it
Let's start our acquaintance with liquid glass. What is this substance? It is based on sodium silicate. Sometimes a more expensive product is used - potassium silicate.
I get water glass in factories fusing silicon dioxide with soda. Pure liquid glass is a colorless crystal. Sometimes they are white. In the construction business, a solution of silicates in water is used. It is a viscous mixture that hardens when exposed to carbon dioxide from the air. When glass solidifies, amorphous silicon oxides are released. This material is used mainly for processing cement, wood and concrete surfaces. The working mixture on liquid glass can have a wide variety of component ratios.
- rather high cost of the mixture;
- the need to use up the packaging completely.
After opening the package (image no. 1), the glass hardens very quickly. In construction, individual components are often used to compose solutions. This is much cheaper than the ready-mix. If there is not a lot of work, then you will need:
- bucket;
- mixing drill;
- spray gun or brush;
- cement;
- sand;
- water;
- construction trowel;
- overalls and protective equipment (image No. 2).
The bucket should be designed specifically to fill it with liquid glass. Silicates are highly toxic. Therefore, you should not allow food products to be close to them. The drill must be equipped with a special attachment. Sifted sand must be used. Dilute liquid glass with cold water. Better to use small measuring containers. This will prevent you from pouring excess water into the solution. Usually the mortar is made from concrete mortar or from cement, diluted with water glass. For 1 part of the glass, take 10 parts of the solution. If the instructions indicate other proportions, you should use them.
Protective gloves and goggles are essential when working. It is better to choose rough clothes. It can be made of rubberized fabric or tarpaulin. Ordinary fabrics become completely unusable very quickly, since the mixture has a high alkalinity. Spilled material on clothing can be removed mechanically. The frozen glass is cleaned with a knife. To make cleaning easier, you can cover the stains with a cloth dampened with water and hold for several hours. Large spills are very difficult to remove. Better to avoid them.
Image No. 2. Protective equipment when working with liquid glass: gloves, goggles, respirator.
These mixtures are used for treating floors and walls. Standing thickness can be up to 3mm. It is a very strong film to protect the structure from moisture and give it extra strength. The walls of various wells and pools are treated with liquid glass.
The range of colors of these mixtures is very scarce. The high alkalinity of the material destroys almost all color pigments. A mixture based on potassium silicate is more resistant to dyes. Silicate paints can be purchased in stores and mixed with water glass before use.
In order to achieve greater hydrophobicity, you can add no more than 5% organic polymers to the total mass of the mixture. The best adhesion is obtained by applying glass to cement or lime whitewash. Alkyd or acrylic paint must be thoroughly cleaned from the surface.
Liquid glass and brick
Can liquid glass be applied to bricks? It is written in the rules for its application that it is categorically impossible to do this. This mixture can completely destroy brickwork. But the solution dries quickly. This makes it possible to apply it to brick walls in small portions (image no. 3).
Visible streaks are immediately removed from the surface. A mixture based on sodium silicates is used on mineral surfaces, potash glass is best used in an acidic environment. Ease of application allows this substance to be used quite widely. It has special properties:
Image No. 3. It is necessary to apply liquid glass evenly and in small portions.- high moisture resistance;
- adhesion to many types of surfaces;
- inertness with respect to most chemicals;
- excellent antiseptic;
- the highest degree of fire resistance;
- strength;
- very low thermal conductivity;
- high anti-corrosion properties;
- the material is non-toxic;
- has great wind resistance.
These data allow the use of the composition for the treatment of fireplaces, heating speeches, chimneys. To use glass in the processing of stoves and fireplaces, you need to mix liquid glass with sand and cement. For 1 part of cement, 3 parts of sand and 1 part of glass are taken. Everything is thoroughly mixed and applied to the treated surfaces in small portions. When working, do not allow the mixture to get into the eyes. If it gets into your eyes, you should immediately rinse them with plenty of clean water.
Remember the main thing
Liquid glass gives on surfaces a film that does not dissolve in water, does not emit toxins, and does not react to chemicals. It is used in the manufacture of durable paints, bricks with heat-resistant properties, molds for enterprises engaged in metal casting. Liquid glass is used in factories to make soap.
In everyday life, it is used to waterproof the walls of buildings, swimming pools, wells.
When buying it, you need to choose a tight package. It must be hermetically sealed. Otherwise, when air enters, the glass begins to freeze. The product can be stored for up to 1 year, even in severe frosts.
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When using liquid glass for bricks, there is a very low consumption of it. The material is affordable. It is used on concrete or plastered surfaces. When working with bricks, it is not recommended to use it. Liquid glass is used for sealing pipes, for repairing pieces of furniture. Gardeners use it to treat cutting sites in trees. Before pasting the walls of the apartment with glass wallpaper, it is useful to process them with a glass solution. The main thing in this matter is to choose the most correct composition.
The dream of many motorists is to see their car always clean and well-groomed. Fortunately, modern polishing techniques make it possible. And if earlier only ordinary polishes could be found on store shelves, today liquid glass is increasingly popular - a special alkaline composition based on potassium or sodium silicate.
The material is produced, as a rule, by fusion of soda and quartz sand, which makes it possible to obtain an ideal quality and safe polishing product. It remains only to find out how to properly apply liquid glass for a car with your own hands, and in what sequence to do it.
Liquid glass: what is it and why is it needed?
The new polish appeared on store shelves relatively recently - only in 2008. The first developers were the largest brands - manufacturers of Japanese cars. Over the years, the range of these products has expanded significantly, new brands and varieties of car polishes have appeared.
As a rule, foreign manufacturers separate liquid glass for cars of different colors - dark and light. At the same time, they guarantee the effectiveness and preservation of the quality of the coating for 2-3 years after application. There is only one "but". Taking into account our climate and the characteristics of the road surface, such a guarantee is significantly adjusted and reduced to the level of 1-1.5 years.
Remember the surface of a new car after purchase, its perfect appearance, deep paint color - everything is perfect. But the car body looks like this no more than 2-3 years after buying it at a car dealership. Over time, the paintwork fades, microcracks and invisible damage appear. After 3-5 years, the body color becomes not so bright, obvious scuffs, cracks and scratches are visible on it.
Of course, the automotive market is overflowing with polishes that mask existing problems and restore aesthetics. But their main problem is fragility. The car enthusiast is forced to go to the store again and again to buy another batch of polish.
But the problem is a thing of the past with the advent of new material. It is enough to apply liquid glass to the car to transform and protect the body for a long time. If you do not want to tinker yourself, then you can entrust the work to professionals who, within a few hours, will apply the product to the body and carry out polishing work.
Advantages of liquid glass for cars
Before buying and using something new, you should know its features and benefits. And here there really is something to tell about. The main advantages of liquid glass include:
- reliable protection of the body from any external influences (including chemical);
- a guarantee of high-quality and rich "native" color of the car and the "mirror" effect;
- affordable price when compared with the duration of the effect that the polish gives;
- effective elimination of small cracks and scratches that often remain after washing a vehicle;
- durability. As a rule, even with year-round operation, liquid glass is retained on the body for 9-12 months;
- the ability to quickly correct the color in case of tarnishing of the surface;
- effective repulsion from the surface of dirt and water;
- UV protection. As a result, the paintwork is reliably protected from sunlight;
- heat resistance. You can be sure that even with strong heating, the quality of the coating will remain at a high level;
- antistatic effect. This option is especially useful in winter, when a static charge accumulates on the surface of the car;
- the hardness of the material. In the production process, special elements are used that ensure the maximum hardness of the material. In this case, liquid glass in its performance becomes very similar to glass;
- absolute transparency. This quality ensures maximum body shine and color depth.
How to cover a car body with liquid glass: step by step
The process of applying liquid glass consists of several stages:
- Check the package contents of the polish. The composition should contain the following tools: hardener and base composition, a pipette (required for mixing), special fiber for hand polishing, protective gloves, towels and a soft sponge. If there is something missing in the kit, then it is better to buy it.
- Now prepare the surface of the vehicle. This stage is one of the most important in the polishing process and should not be skipped. Wash the vehicle and remove any existing dirt. Then degrease the surface and let the vehicle dry. Degreasing can be done with white spirit diluted in water. Never use a composition with silicone or low-quality alcohols in the composition. If before that the car body was already covered with any of the polishes, then it must be completely removed. Otherwise, the new coating layer will not adhere well to the body and will last much less than the intended period.
- Select a site for work. The best option is a dry, well-ventilated place, where the temperature ranges from 10 to 40 degrees Celsius. It is best to do the polishing in the garage, but as a last resort, you can do it outdoors under a special canopy. Your task is to exclude accidental exposure of the body to sunlight, dust and dirt.
- Completing of the work. Once the preparatory work is completed, you can start polishing the vehicle with liquid glass. Do not apply the composition to the entire body at once - practice on a small area of the car. If the polish adheres well to the surface and provides the expected result, you can start working.
Please note that it is necessary to apply liquid glass to the car body gradually, processing section by section. For example, you can start with the right fender or bumper polish. As soon as the processing of one part is completed, you can proceed to the next stage. This approach is necessary for two reasons. Firstly, it will be possible to perform the work better. Secondly, the applied polish will not dry out.
After applying a small amount of the composition to the surface, rub it with a soft cloth (should be included). In the process of performing work, make sure that no dirt or dust gets on the body at all times. Once the entire body is finished, leave the car alone for a few hours (usually 4-6 is enough). In this case, the final setting of the liquid glass occurs in two weeks. During this period, it is advisable not to wash the car at all (especially at the car wash). After a two-week period, the car body is reliably protected from various mechanical influences: UV rays, moisture and other unpleasant manifestations.
How to speed up the process? Usually, polishing a car by hand takes at least 5-6 hours (with a high-quality finish). This work is very hard and many may not be able to withstand such a load. To make things easier, you can use a sander. All that is required is to select a soft polishing pad and set the speed to medium. In the process of processing, try not to press on the sander in order to prevent overheating of the surface.
If you don't have a sander on hand, a regular electric drill will work as an alternative. In this case, it is worthwhile to purchase a nozzle in advance for fixing the polishing wheels.
That's all. Now you can enjoy the perfect look of your car body and periodically renew the coating. According to the manufacturers, the liquid glass remains on the surface for up to one year and withstands up to fifty visits to the car wash. In addition, just a bottle of water and a clean rag will be enough to tidy up the car.
The price of the issue
High-quality liquid glass for a car will cost from 3 to 6 thousand rubles. Of course, this is much more expensive than the price of other polishes, but the coating lasts ten times longer. Application of the product does not require any additional tools, which will allow you to save a lot.
Output
It is possible to apply liquid glass on your car yourself. The main thing is to stock up on a minimum set of equipment, set aside some time, study the instructions for applying and get to work.
Every motorist strives to protect the body of his car from an aggressive external environment. For these purposes, manufacturers offer special car cosmetics. Wax, epoxy, vinyl, Teflon are effective products. However, the treatment with "liquid glass" in terms of duration and quality of protection of the machine surpasses the above technologies several times.
Types of polishing
You can polish with an aerosol, liquid or paste polish. Each of them has its own specifics. Pasty is suitable for side parts of the body, liquid is ideal for horizontal, and aerosol is universal.
Distinguish between polymer, silicone and wax polishes. Their main drawback is fragility.
In addition to "liquid glass" there is also abrasive and protective polishing. allows you to remove scratches, irregularities and roughness. Protective gives shine and protects against corrosion.
"Liquid glass" is a kind of "two in one", because it combines the properties of abrasive and protective polishes.
What is "liquid glass"?
An aqueous solution of silicates of alkali metals (potassium or sodium), obtained by fusing soda with quartz sand or silica-containing raw materials with concentrated solutions of sodium hydroxide. This Japanese invention appeared in 2008. Its main task is to protect the paintwork of the car body from external factors. After processing, the car becomes shiny, and the coating resembles glass to the touch. It is very difficult to achieve this gloss with conventional paint. Moreover, the material has a number of other useful qualities.
After treatment with liquid glass "the surface of the body becomes so smooth that at a speed of 70-80 kilometers per hour, the use of wipers is not necessary.
After treatment with liquid glass "the surface of the body becomes so smooth that at a speed of 70-80 kilometers per hour, the use of wipers is not necessary.
Advantages of "liquid glass"
- Reliable protection of the body from the sun, rain, snow;
- Long service life - up to three years;
- Additional protection of paint from fading;
- Resistance to minor mechanical damage;
- Saving on car wash due to increased water and dirt repellency;
- Resistance to chemical influences, for example, to reagents used on the roads in winter;
- Anti-corrosion protection;
- Saving on car painting;
- Relatively low cost.
Who is the liquid glass technology for?
First of all, for motorists who are worried about every scratch. After processing, your machine will be reliably protected from such troubles. Thanks to "liquid glass", the owners of new cars are able to preserve the beauty of their car. The original color will remain the same for five years!
Is body treatment possible at home?
Practice shows that the durability of the coating also depends on its correct application. To, you need experience, equipment, as well as careful implementation of all stages of the process. It often happens that even the workshop staff, who rarely do this work, do not adhere to the technology. This leads to unsightly streaks and surface glare.
Important
The quality of the road on which you regularly drive determines the effectiveness of the use of any body covering. For example, European service stations provide a 2-3 year warranty. Based on Russian realities, this figure may be less - from a year to two.
For two weeks after polishing, you should not use car shampoos or any other active compounds. This will allow the coating to harden.
The quality of the "liquid glass" is determined by the module. It shows the ratio in solution of silicon oxide and sodium oxide or potassium oxide. The larger it is, the, accordingly, the better the quality.
Ever dreamed that the body of your vehicle will retain its original luster even after years of intensive use? Order the car polishing service with liquid glass in the "Academy Lux" company and your long-standing desire will come true: the paintwork will be covered with a special protective compound.
We will eliminate minor flaws, lacquer abrasions, chips, and only then we will process the body. Our craftsmen will handle all of these operations in 24 hours or less.
The choice in favor of liquid glass for the car body is a rational decision, since this material provides excellent protective qualities and is cheaper than analogues. It's all about the chemical properties of the composition.
What is liquid glass?
Scientifically speaking, liquid glass for a car is a complex chemical composition, the active component of which is silicon dioxide (its share is 10-20%). It is also the main element. That is, it is thanks to silicon dioxide that good adhesion of the composition and paintwork is ensured, as well as its protection from mechanical damage.
After proper treatment with liquid glass for a car, a strong and durable film is formed on the paintwork, which protects it from rubble, dust and road debris.
In general, "liquid glass" is a simplified name that does not describe the principle or composition of the material, but the resulting effect. The body starts to sparkle. At the same time, it was as if he had really been doused with liquid glass, which then froze and formed a strong transparent film.
Stages of applying liquid glass to a car
7 advantages of liquid glass over analogues
I must admit, there are many compositions for the protective treatment of a car body. But why has liquid glass been so popular among motorists in recent years? There are at least 7 reasons for this.
1. Low cost. The first and most important advantage of the protective coating of a car with liquid glass is the price, which makes this procedure affordable for most motorists in the capital. Analogues are much more expensive.
2. Resistance to chemical compounds. Liquid glass protects not only from mechanical damage. Bird droppings, stains of gasoline, bitumen and other contaminants will not get to the surface of the paintwork. And they will be washed off from liquid glass with ordinary water.
3. Repels water and dirt. Liquid glass is a hydrophobic composition. So you will less frequently visit a car wash, because dirt and dust nailed down by water will not leave ugly stains and streaks on the surface of the body.
4. Protection against micro-scratches. If you decide to go out into nature or park next to bushes in the city, you don't have to worry about their branches scratching the body. Even sand flying from under the wheels will not leave traces and micro-scratches on the paintwork.
5. Saturated color. Coating the car body with liquid glass gives its native paint an additional shine: it acts as a kind of lens that does not lead to burnout and fading of the paintwork.
6. Serves up to 12 months. Liquid glass will retain its properties for up to 1 year. Then you just need to restore it. This will cost you less, since the craftsmen will not need to first correct the defects of the body. Other types of polishes last much less.
7. Easy to recover. If the coating has become dull, has become dull, or the part has been damaged as a result of an accident, any part of the liquid glass can be restored or renewed at minimal cost in Academy Lux.
Where to order a coating with liquid glass and how much does it cost?
If you want experienced craftsmen to make the protective coating of the car with liquid glass for you without flaws, then sign up and come to the "Academy Lux" company. We work with formulations from three leading manufacturers:
- Willson;
- C. Quartz;
- Pika-rain.
Prices for coating a car body with liquid glass
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Name of service |
1 class |
2nd grade |
Grade 3 |
4th grade |
Grade 5 |
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Body wash |
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Cleaning the body from bitumen, silicones |
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Body preparation with Glass Body Cleaner |
Liquid glass for waterproofing is used more and more often.
Despite the fact that the installation of liquid glass involves minor difficulties, it can still be done by hand.
The article explains what liquid glass is for waterproofing and how it is used.
What is liquid glass?
The peculiarities of sodium glass are fire resistance, stickiness and the ability to interact with minerals, which is successfully used in the reinforcement of the foundation and in the production of fire-resistant and antimicrobial chemistry.
Ceramic glass stands out for its high resistance to the atmosphere and acids, which is why it is still used in the creation of artistic paints.
Liquid glass as a material attracts not only by its strength and moisture resistance, but also by its ability to withstand strong chemical and mechanical stress.
The degree of surface protection from moisture and other things directly depends on how deeply liquid glass penetrates into it. But in any case, first, the surface is leveled and gets rid of fat.
To apply glass to the material, use either a standard brush or a spray gun.
The composition is applied to plaster and concrete in such a way that it penetrates 2 mm inside. For better protection against moisture, it is necessary for the glass to penetrate deeper, namely by 20 mm.
In order for the material to get to such a depth, the composition is applied several times. It doesn't matter how deep the glass goes, the main thing is that you always need to pay attention to the joints and seams - they must be sealed especially carefully.
For places with special humidity, such as a pool or basement, a solution of glass and concrete with a ratio of 1:10 is used.
As an insulating material, liquid glass is just a great option because of its antiseptic properties.
Plus, it seals well, which is why it is used in particularly difficult places: basements, attics and the like.
These places especially suffer from fungi, high humidity and mold, and fires often occur in them, from which liquid glass will not completely save, but will smooth out the consequences.
Glass is also used with porous materials such as plaster or concrete - it restores and reinforces them, simultaneously cleaning them from microbes.
The antiseptic properties of liquid glass also explain its use in the treatment of metals from rust.
Waterproofing is required not only for the walls of the pool or well, but also for the foundation. Foundation slabs are also processed in several ways.
The first method is the most obvious to the layperson. The surface is simply coated with several layers of glass, after which another type of insulation is laid.
In addition to coating the foundation, there are other ways to strengthen it with liquid glass.
For example, mix glass into a mortar. You can add it to the cement if the leaks in the foundation are very large or if the prefabricated foundation of a wooden house is being repaired.
Glass can also be mixed into concrete, and then the characteristics of the mixture will significantly improve. For example, concrete will dry faster.
But this plus is not always achieved, because in the case of concrete, it is more important than ever to observe proportions, and if this is not done, then the foundation will lose its strength.
To better understand whether it is cost-effective to use liquid glass for waterproofing, you need to have information about its advantages and disadvantages.
Liquid glass well prevents the action of water on the surface, fits perfectly on the mineral foundation, is easy to use, is consumed a little and is inexpensive.
Liquid glass is a very durable material because its structure is similar to that of diamond. For the same reason, the composition has increased moisture resistance and is able to resist rust.
Despite its impressive list of advantages, liquid glass also has a number of disadvantages.
Liquid glass hardens quickly, which can be a problem during installation. That is why it is better to leave work with the material to specialists.
Another serious problem can be the waterproofing layer, which needs additional strengthening.
It should be noted that there are not very many disadvantages, and liquid glass remains one of the best options for waterproofing structures with high humidity or in direct contact with water.
Where is the material used?
Before covering the surface with glass, you need to make sure that it is level and properly prepared.
A prepared surface is considered to be a surface cleaned of dirt and free from foreign objects (screws, nails, etc.).
If the walls of the pool, well or tiles in the bathroom are to be processed, it is recommended to wash the material well so that minor imperfections are more conspicuous.
If cracks, scratches or loose seams become more noticeable, it will be easier to navigate and fix these defects.
Just remember that the surface to be treated must be dry, so let it dry before processing.
You can protect the problem surface from fungus with an antiseptic applied after degreasing.
Typically, this is done on bathroom floors where mold and mildew are most likely to form.
If a wooden surface is being processed, then before waterproofing it is necessary to treat it with a fire retardant, preventing fire.
The material gained popularity due to its simplicity in work. Today, many diverse tasks are solved with its help.
The use of liquid glass for waterproofing is the first possible use case.
They treat almost any surface: basement walls, concrete foundation slabs, and sometimes even trees (so that they do not lose juice).
The antiseptic properties of glass make it indispensable when building a foundation, the influence of the atmosphere on which is difficult to overestimate.
The base is constantly exposed to temperature changes, collapses due to high humidity, over time it is colonized by mosses and lichens.
Treatment of the foundation with liquid glass allows, if not permanently excluded, then significantly delay the time of destruction.
Waterproofing with liquid glass is not the only application of this material, since it has an antimicrobial effect, therefore it is often used when treating the walls of dwellings.
Walls often need to be treated against mold and mildew, and nothing can do it better than liquid glass, which can not only prevent the development of bacteria, but also repair microcracks in the surface.
The material can also be used as an adhesive because it adheres well to almost any surface. It is used for gluing cardboard, glass and even porcelain.
How to use it correctly?
Liquid glass is difficult to use on its own, it must be mixed with something. What exactly depends on where the solution will be applied.
A mixture of glass and cement is used as standard. To prepare it, you need to stir 10 kg of cement with water (using a construction mixer), and then add glass and mix.
The mixture should not harden very quickly. If this does happen, then the problem can be solved by adding more water.
To prepare the mortar used to cover the walls of wells, glass is mixed with sifted sand. The sand is mixed with water and glass in a 1: 1: 1 ratio.
When processing well walls, they are first processed simply with glass, and then it is worth using the prepared composition.
Glass is sometimes used as a refractory material. This is useful when laying fireplaces or stoves. For this, a mixture of glass, cement and sand is used.
In a standard cement slurry (cement and sand 1: 3), water glass is added (one-fifth of the amount of cement).
It is necessary to prepare the mixture as needed - it is better not to stockpile it in reserve, since the composition hardens quickly.
The manufacturing technology of the antibacterial solution is very simple. The glass is diluted with water 1: 1.
With an antibacterial solution, you should be careful when using it when processing concrete or plastered surfaces.
The glass solution solidifies on them, turning into a slippery thin film, which subsequently interferes with puttying and finishing.
The impregnation solution is also prepared from glass and water, but in different proportions. There are 400 g of glass per liter of water.
The solution is liquid, therefore it is applied to the surface with a brush. It is important that each layer is applied to a dry surface, that is, you need to wait until the previous one dries.
