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How do I use cost-efficient water-based products in areas with colder climates?

I would like to use a less expensive water-based form release agent, but I live in a part of the country where freezing temperatures occur during the winter months. I am concerned about the product freezing during the winter. Any suggestions? 

Any of our super-concentrated form release agents can be stored under freezing conditions prior to dilution without concern for damage from freezing. The super concentrates can then be mixed with water, taken to the job site and applied at temperatures above freezing.Our vegetable-based release agent, Bio-Nox VS can also be stored in freezing conditions without damage.

Only petroleum-based products should be used at temperatures below freezing. To maximize savings, consider a cost-averaging approach where a petroleum-based product is used in the winter and a water-based product is used in the spring, summer and fall.

What’s the best way to remove concrete buildup from aluminum forms and prevent it from reoccurring?

We use brick-textured aluminum forms to construct residential poured concrete basements. The release agent we have been using becomes so thick in the winter that we can’t spray it through our sprayer. As a result, our forms have become covered with concrete buildup. What should we do to remove the buildup, and what form release agent would you recommend that we use?  

Nox-Crete’s Form Clean is ideal for removing hardened concrete buildup from aluminum forms. Form Clean functions as both a release agent and a form cleaner, allowing you to keep your forms in service while being cleaned, if you prefer. Apply Form Clean as you would your regular release agent immediately after form removal. Through repeated use (usually about 2 weeks),  the buildup will soften and the forms will become clean. Once the forms are clean, use Alumi-Nox R or Alumi-Con as your regular release agent to minimize buildup in the future.

How safe are Nox-Crete form release agents?

I am concerned about the safety of the laborers on my crew. How can I be sure I am choosing the safest products for them to use?

Nox-Crete form release agents are designed to meet and exceed all OSHA standards for worker safety. No recycled or reworked raw materials are used in any of our products. All naphthenic distillates used are severely hydro-treated to remove high molecular weight aromatics (HMWA). For added safety, choose one of our water-based form release agents which use water to replace up to 88% of the petroleum carrier.

Why are our concrete forms not lasting as long as they used to?

We use 1 and 1/8 inch overlaid plywood forms to construct residential basements and stem walls. For some reason we seem to be getting fewer pours on our forms. Is the reduced life of our forms related to the quality of the plywood, or is it due to the use of an ineffective form release agent? 

Although the reduced form life you are experiencing could be the result of many factors, the most likely cause of your problem is increased alkalinity of the concrete. The addition of certain pozzolans to concrete, such as Class C fly ash or blast furnace slag, can increase the pH of fresh concrete, causing increased damage to overlaid plywood forms. To maximize your overlaid plywood form life, restrict the use of highly alkaline pozzolans in your concrete mix design, and use Nox-Crete form release agents on your forms.

Nox-Crete’s chemically reactive form release agents react with calcium hydroxide (lime) in fresh concrete to form metallic waterproof soaps which, over time and through use, waterproof plywood form surfaces and effectively restrict further penetration of destructive alkaline bleed water.

How does the Mix Station work?

Nox-Crete’s Mix Station is designed to dilute and mix Nox-Crete’s line of super-concentrated form release agents. The Mix Station is positioned on top of a 55-gallon drum or a 275-gallon tote. A water hose is attached to the Mix Station at one end, and a mix valve is on the other end. When opened, the mix valve automatically siphons the super-concentrated form release agent into the venturi mixing chamber where it is mixed with water at the proper dilution ratio. The fully mixed and properly diluted form release agent then exits the Mix Station in a ready-to-use form. When enough ready-to-use release agent has been produced, the mix valve can be closed to stop the flow. Anyone can effectively operate the Mix Station and achieve consistent results.