This is part me sharing what I have learned and part asking for people's experience.
#1 Has anyone who has used Xypex noticed if it causes visible crystalization or discoloration of any sort on the surface of the treated cement?
I am resurfacing a 120 sq ft pond and 1000 sq ft swimming pool and it is important for both but mostly the white pool.
#2 Who has combined Xypex with liquid or dry acrylic polymers?
I have had 3 Xypex sales reps say it is fine for use with polymers and two support people tell me it should not be used with polymers. Yet Xypex itself sells their own version! Talk about confusing. I plan on applying Xypex concentrate to the old concrete shells for both the pond and the pool, the going over that with my own mix of portland cement, pozzolans, a liquid acrylic or other integraly mixed polymer (*edited out my orignal recommendation for Acry-Lok as it is a very normal 22% percent solids), along with Xypex C-1000 NF (no fines.. aka sand). The NF version I bought online from a redimix company called Vitale-Robinson in 7 lb increments ($40 each + shipping, I mention this because someone in another thread said they could only buy Xypex in 60 lb pails, that is not the case and I see different people are selling the concentrate on Amazon and ebay both. I personally had some difficulty finding it early on so FYI. You can also ask Xypex for your local distributors. I bought the comcentrate locally and convinced them to sell to me at their contractor price since it was available online cheaper. As far as using xypex with acrylic polymers, I can see how it might hinder the xypex in terms of it's ability to form crystals and may lock much of it down, however I seriously doubt that acrylic prevents it from functioning long term. Someone has called it a "bond breaker" in an old thread and I do not think that is justified. I think it just physically gets in the way and slows it down, reduces it's action somewhat. Each product probably still contributes to the longterm durability of the concrete or cementious coating.
3) I purchased Quikwall SBC and Quikrete Heavy Duty Masonry coating and now plan on returning both. I encourage others to pass on SBC and the HD Masonry Coating for these reasons. 1) Quickrete does not publish what it's dampproofing ingredient(s) are. (I ended the sentence with "are" painfully, though I think it is technically acceptable.) 2) Their support agents don't know anything more about the ingredients than what is printed on the TDS and SDS. They claim the dampproofing ingredient is "proprietary". 3) Traditionally, SBC coatings are "waterproofed" with calcium stearate, a fatty acid that is said not to stand the test of time. I have read opinions stating it lasts for a few years at best and is subject to biodegration. Quikrete is inconsistent in it's documentation as to whether these products are dampproofers or waterproofers, plus they were obviously not originally designed specifically for constant, long term immersion purposes.
I'm returning mine because I learned about calcium stearate and am betting quikrete uses it or a similar chemical since it is they are such old products and their being redesigned is not mentioned anywhere. I don't mean to concern those who have used SBC, I sure it will be fine for them, however it seems I and others can save r by mixing cement and sand and adding xypex or the other ingredients previously mentioned. If anyone wonders what pozzolans I'm using those would be 15% Metamax Metakaolin and 5% Silica Fume. They are really not needed for a pond but I am practicing on the pond before I do the pool. They both lower porosity and increase the strength and durability of the cement similar to what Xypex does. And yes, Xypex can be used with pozzolans.
Thoughts? Questions, comments, snyde remarks?
Matt