The connection might seem unexpected, but let's dive in.
Concrete is a mix of cement, sand, aggregate, and water. As freshly poured concrete dries, it releases moisture vapor into the surrounding air until a stable balance is achieved.
Similarly, a car’s cruise control maintains the driver’s set speed. When the car climbs a hill and the speed drops, the cruise control increases fuel supply and changes gears to maintain the set speed.
Homeostatic Principles Maintain Balance
What do these two have in common? Both operate on homeostatic principles, which means they regulate conditions to stay constant and stable.
Moisture Vapor Transmission
How do homeostatic principles apply to concrete? Concrete is porous, behaving like a dense sponge. It absorbs water from the surface and the ground. Moisture within or beneath a concrete slab moves through the concrete in a process called moisture vapor transmission.
As long as the air above the concrete is drier than the concrete itself, moisture continues to move to the surface, maintaining a balance between the air and the concrete.
Floor Coating Failure
When it comes to coated floors, moisture vapor transmission can cause adhesion problems and floor coating failure.
Breathable Floor Coatings
A breathable floor coating allows a concrete floor to release moisture to the surface without affecting the coating. To manage moisture vapor transmission, a breathable epoxy floor coating is necessary, allowing the concrete to breathe and moisture to reach the surface without compromising the coating’s adhesion.
Excessive moisture transmission from the ground can cause issues if the concrete floor coating doesn’t permit moisture to escape.
This is homeostasis at work.
In essence, similar to how cruise control keeps a car's speed steady, breathable coatings enable moisture in concrete to harmonize with the ambient air, thereby averting harm to the floor coating.