Ion-Bond Armor
Subsurface Elastomeric Concrete Sealer

The “champ” among all siloxane or silane sealers – without equal in the marketplace. Ion-Bond Armor penetrates the deepest, seals the tightest, and the seal is permanent.

Ion-Bond Armor’s small molecules penetrate deep into concrete, masonry, clay, and porous building materials, react, and form an elastomeric waterproof barrier well below the surface. It is like injecting silicone caulk into the pores. It waterproofs against water from above or below – rainwater, melting snow, and underground water infiltration under hydrostatic pressure or by wicking.

What makes Ion-Bond concrete sealer so unique?

• Penetrates up to 1-1/2" into concrete (three times deeper than a typical siloxane sealer).
• Waterproofs the substrate against rainwater, snowmelt, and surface water.
• The only siloxane sealer that is also suitable for basements, foundation slabs, and retaining walls because it waterproofs against negative side water pressure. Hydrostatic pressure from the "other side" cannot push it out of the pores. Stops water wicking.
• Permanent! No re-applications needed. (Store-sold sealers have to be re-applied every year.)
• Does not leave a surface film. Does not alter color or appearance of the surface and leaves it suitable for paints, adhesives, or thinset.
• Seals so deep and tight that is also 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. Ion-Bond will not penetrate through other paints, hybrid paints with latex, heavy floor paints, and two or more layers of latex.)

Coverage

Ion-Bond Armor is shipped in 5-gallon pails. Coverage depends on surface porosity. Typical coverage:

Poured concrete	1,000 sq. ft. per 5-gal. pail
Concrete blocks	700 sq. ft. per 5-gal. pail
Cinder or split face blocks	500 - 700 sq. ft. per 5-gal. pail

Shipping and pricing

Not sold in stores but delivered directly from the factory to your door. Orders received by 1 pm ET are normally shipped the same day and UPS Ground delivers within 2 to 5 working days in the lower 48 states.
Sorry, Ion-Bond Armor is on backorder until January 30, 2012.

Ion-Bond Armor Subsurface Sealer

Size	Price	Shipping
Ion-Bond 5-gallon pail	$299	$24

Returns: This product is not returnable.

How to Order

For secure and encrypted online processing of your order, click ORDER ONLINE. You can use your credit card, PayPal acccount, or Google Checkout. Or simply phone your order in! If you prefer mailing a money order or check, use the Order Form.

Easy spray-on application

Ion-Bond Armor is a user- and environment-friendly product – waterborne, nonflammable, and nonhazardous. You can apply it quickly and easily with a low-pressure sprayer like a hand-pump garden sprayer (not included). Before application, mix in the activator with a mixing tool (included) using a standard electric drill.

Use the sealer within 45 days after shipment (the reason why it is not returnable).

Surfaces to be treated must be clean, bare, and thoroughly dry. However, Ion-Bond Armor can seal through a single layer of latex paint.

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

Ion-Bond Armor Instructions     Ion-Bond Armor pail label     Ion-Bond Armor MSDS

How Ion-Bond 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

Polymerized siloxanes are closely related to silicones (just like in silicone caulk). Ion-Bond 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. 

Concrete waterproofing and protection

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

Ion-Bond Armor eliminates or reduces concrete pitting, spalling, efflorescence, and even cracking by keeping out surface water.

Protects concrete against contaminants and deterioration caused by surface water:

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

Durability and beading

Silicone caulk is very durable but after a while, tends to separate from the concrete. Ion-Bond Armor is so durable because it is imbedded deep inside the pores. It is well hidden from UV-rays that break down other sealers. Once sealed with Ion-Bond, the concrete will remain waterproof for its life.

Concrete sealed with Ion-Bond Armor will shed rainwater and dry out quickly. If there is a puddle in a low spot, it will stay until it evaporates because the concrete is waterproof. But the surface will not bead water because the seal is so deep below the surface. It will not become slippery when wet and will remain paintable. Spills do not penetrate and are easy to wash off.

Comparison with other sealers

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

No surface film:

Ion-Bond 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 from negative side moisture pressure or efflorescence.

Deep penetration:

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

Moisture:

Some sealers form a vapor impermeable film on the surface, trap moisture and activate efflorescence inside the concrete, which is harmful to the concrete and unsightly. Ion-Bond allows the substrate to “breathe”

Durability:

While most siloxane sealers last only couple years, Ion-Bond Armor waterproofs and protects permanently. The leading driveway sealer sold in stores breaks down so quickly that it has to be re-applied every year.

Friction:

Ion-Bond 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. Ion-Bond Armor is waterborne, non-toxic, nonflammable, has very low VOCs, and is nonhazardous and environment-friendly.

Comparison with RadonSeal penetrating sealer

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

Unlike RadonSeal, Ion-Bond Armor is self-reacting – it does not depend on a chemical reaction with lime. It can seal concretes with additives or color pigments like integrally colored concrete and fibercrete. It also seals non-cementitious materials like bricks, stones, and masonry. The downside is a very short shelf life. (Ion-Bond Armor is not returnable!)

Ion-Bond 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.

Both sealers do not bead and leave the surface suitable for paints, thinset and patching compounds.

Primary uses of Ion-Bond 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)
• Tighter surfaces and 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:

• Waterproofing overly porous concrete/cinder blocks in basements
• Sealing porous concrete slabs to further minimize water vapor transmission before installing flooring
• Reducing radon gas infiltration to a minimum
• Reducing vapor intrusion from contaminated soils (dry cleaners, landfills, brown fields, hydrocarbon spills, termicides).

RadonSeal plus Ion-Bond combination

Ion-Bond Armor is often applied to concrete first sealed with RadonSeal to provide the tightest possible seal against water vapor and gases. It is needed for sealing more porous concrete blocks or cinder blocks in basements. It is particularly useful before installing flooring on concrete floors – much better than plastic sheets, which trap moisture and cause molds and mildew.

Application as the second sealer:
Make sure the concrete surface is properly washed and scrubbed after applying RadonSeal. Let dry out and cure for at least 10 days before applying Ion-Bond Armor.