Form release agents are made up of the organic chemicals that are applied on materials that are not intended to get bonded to the concrete surfaces. Whenever a fresh concrete surface is prepared in the construction industry, it should not be bonded with the steel, aluminum or wood structure, as it can create voids or faults in the smooth surface. Thus, in order to avoid any bonding with the freshly laid concrete, form release agents are applied on steel, aluminum, wood and plywood materials.
Form release agents are primarily used in the concrete construction industry. They can be classified into two types:
- Barrier release agents – These agents prevent bonding between two surfaces by developing a barrier between the concrete and the forming surface.
- Reactive release agents – These agents react chemically with the limestone in fresh concrete, and a soapy film is created, which prevents bonding.
Some of the benefits of using form release agents are:
- Helps in leaving a smooth concrete surface
- VOC-compliant
- They can be readily used and don’t require any mixing
- Prevents rust, helps in increasing wood life
- Reduces form repairing