IonBond Armor
Subsurface Elastomeric Concrete Sealer

The “champ” among all siloxane or silane sealers – without equal in the marketplace. IonBond Armor penetrates the deepest, seals the tightest, and re-applications are not needed!

IonBond Armor’s small molecules penetrate deep into concrete, masonry, and porous building materials, react, and form an elastomeric waterproof barrier well below the surface. It makes the concrete waterproof against water from above or below – rainwater and surface water, melting ice or snow, and underground water incursion by wicking or hydrostatic pressure.

Treated concrete is protected against contaminants and deterioration caused by:

• Road salts, deicing chemicals
• Freeze-thaw damage
• Rusting of re-enforcing steel
• Chemical spills, motor oils
• Underground water
• Efflorescence
• Acid rain, airborne contaminants
• Molds, mildew, algae.

The subsurface elastomeric membrane repels and sheds water. Liquid spills can be easily washed off. IonBond Armor is resistant to acids and alkalis.

IonBond Armor eliminates or reduces concrete pitting, spalling, efflorescence, and even cracking.

What makes IonBond concrete sealer so unique?

• Penetrates up to 1-1/2" into concrete (three times deeper than a typical siloxane sealer)
• The only siloxane sealer that is also suitable for basements, foundation slabs, and retaining walls because it also waterproofs against negative side water pressure. Hydrostatic pressure cannot “push" it out of the pores.
• Does not leave a surface film. Does not alter color or appearance of the surface and leaves it suitable for paints or adhesives. A light sanding of the surface (80–50 grit) to remove any residue from puddling or over-application may be needed.
• Seals so deep and tight that is reduces infiltration of water vapor and gases while still letting the substrate "breathe."
• So penetrating that it even waterproofs through a single layer of latex paint, including a widely-sold waterproofing paint. (Latex paint is porous. IonBond will not penetrate through other paints or hybrid paints with latex, two or more layers of latex, or heavy floor paints.)

How IonBond Armor works

This state-of-the-art polysiloxane sealer uses waterborne siloxanes, which are organic silicon compounds. (The word siloxane is derived from silicon, oxygen, and alkane.) Its small molecules penetrate deep into pores, react and gel as long-chain molecules, bond to the substrate, and cure. For maximum strength, the molecules are negatively charged during manufacturing to attach themselves to the substrate with a strong ionic bond.

Polymerized siloxanes are closely related to silicones (just like in silicone caulk). IonBond subsurface elastomeric sealer works by filling the pores inside the substrate, not by forming a surface film. The result is like injecting silicone caulk into the pores. 

Durability and beading

Silicone caulk is very durable but after a while, it tends to separate from the concrete. IonBond Armor is so enduring because the sealer is not on the surface but imbedded deep inside the pores. It is well hidden from harmful UV-rays and the elements. Once sealed, the concrete will remain waterproof.

Concrete sealed with IonBond Armor will shed rainwater and dry out quickly but it will not bead water because the seal is so deep below the surface. The surface will not become slippery when wet and will remain paintable. If there is a puddle in a low spot, it will stay until it evaporates because the concrete is waterproof.

Primary uses of IonBond Armor

1 - As a stand-alone sealer for:

• Fiber reinforced concrete (fibercrete)
• Integrally colored concrete
• Thin concrete floors (less than 2-3", too thin for RadonSeal)
• Tight surfaces or dense structural concrete
• Bricks, man-made or natural stones, masonry.
• Waterproofing through a single layer of latex paint.

Is it latex- or oil-based paint?
Scrub a small area with a solution of warm water and household detergent or dishwashing liquid. Rinse well and towel-dry. Soak a Q-Tip, cotton ball or soft rag in rubbing alcohol and rub it back and forth over the clean area. If the paint comes off, it is latex. Or take a chip of the paint and take it to a paint store.

2 - As a second sealer after RadonSeal:

• Sealing porous concrete slabs to further minimize water vapor transmission before installing flooring
• Waterproofing very porous concrete/cinder blocks in basements (works best after applying thinset)
• Reducing radon gas infiltration to a minimum
• Reducing infiltration of gases from contaminated soil (dry cleaners, landfills, brown fields, hydrocarbon spills, termicides).

For more information, application instructions, and MSDS, check out:

IonBond Armor pail label in PDF.

IonBond Armor MSDS in PDF.

Comparison with RadonSeal penetrating sealer

Unlike RadonSeal, IonBond Armor is self-reacting and does not depend on a chemical reaction with cement or lime. This allows it to seal a wide range of concretes and masonry with little or no cement and concrete with additives. It makes it effective for colored concrete and fibercrete.  The trade-off is a very short shelf life.

RadonSeal is the best sealer for sound, uncolored concrete and cementitious materials only. It penetrates deeper (up to 4”). It hardens the surface, strengthens the concrete, neutralizes lime and alkalis that cause efflorescence, and forms the tightest seal against water, vapor, and also radon gas.

IonBond molecules are so small that it can seal tighter power-troweled surfaces or dense structural concrete without the need for acid etching or grinding the surface. IonBond seals also non-cementitious materials like bricks, stones, and masonry.

Both sealers leave the surface paintable but RadonSeal also leaves it suitable for thinset and patching compounds.

Combination: If you want the tightest possible seal in concrete, seal it with RadonSeal, let cure for at least 10 days and then, seal it also with IonBond Armor.

Comparison with common sealers

There are various water-repellants and concrete sealers on the market based on wax, acrylics, urethanes, or epoxy.

No surface film:

IonBond Armor does not form a film on the surface. Common surface sealers peel or crack, wear off in traffic, break down or yellow due to UV-rays, or lift due to negative side pressure of moisture or efflorescence.

Deep penetration:

Some sealers claim to be “penetrating” when they penetrate merely ¼” into the substrate. IonBond penetrates up to 1-1/2” into concrete. .

Moisture:

Sealers that form a vapor impermeable film on the surface, trap moisture and activate efflorescence inside the concrete, which is harmful to the concrete and unsightly. IonBond allows the substrate to “breathe”

Durability:

While most siloxane sealers last only 3-5 years, IonBond Armor waterproofs and protects permanently. The leading driveway sealer sold in stores disintegrates so quickly in the sun that it has to be re-applied every year.

Friction:

IonBond Armor does not make the surface slippery when wet.

Safe product:

Many sealers use chemical solvents, which release fumes, odors, and volatiles (VOCs) harmful to people and the environment. IonBond Armor is waterborne, non-toxic, nonflammable, has very low VOCs, and is non-hazardous and environment-friendly.

Coverage

IonBond Armor is shipped in 5-gallon pails. Typical coverage:

Poured concrete	1,000 sq. ft. per 5-gal. pail (two wet-on-wet applications)
Concrete, Cinder, Split Face Blocks	500 - 700 sq. ft. per 5-gal. pail (three wet-on-wet applications

Shipping and Pricing

Shipped directly from the factory to your doors. Orders received by 2 PM EST are usually shipped the same day. Delivery (via UPS) within 3 to 5 working days in the lower 48 states.

Sealer	Price
IonBond Armor (5-gal. pail)	$299

Add shipping $24/pail by UPS Ground to the lower 48 states.

Easy spray-on application

Simply add the activator to the pail of IonBond Armor, attach the mixing tool (included in the shipment) to a standard 1/4" electric drill, and mix just before application.

Use the sealer within 30 days (max. 45 days) after shipment (a non-returnable product) or within 7 days after mixing in the activator.
The surface has to be clean and thoroughly DRY. Remove any paint, surface sealers, adhesives, grime, oil, efflorescence, and other contaminants.
**IonBond Armor can seal through a single layer of latex paint.

Use a low-pressure sprayer like the common hand-pump garden sprayer or an airless at 30 psi. Spray on a continuous glistening film. Do not over-apply, do not let it run, and back-roll any puddles. After spraying for about 15 minutes, return to the beginning and while the surface is still wet, spray on the second application. (Do not let the first application cure or it would start repelling the second application). Then, move on to the next section. To minimize the rundown on concrete block walls, use three lighter wet-on-wet applications.

Using the mixing tool, always mix the sealer before re-filling the sprayer.

Easy cleanup with a wet rag before it dries out. Once cured, it can be cleaned off with a 50/50 toluene/acetone solution or by sanding.

A combination seal with RadonSeal

IonBond Armor is often applied to concrete first sealed with RadonSeal to provide the tightest possible seal against water vapor and gases. Particularly useful before installing flooring - much better than plastic sheets which trap moisture and may cause molds and mildew.

Application of the secondary sealer:
About 6 hours after applying RadonSeal, make sure to wash and scrub off the surface with a deck brush or scrubber to remove any residue from the surface. Let dry out and cure for at least 10 days before applying IonBond Armor.