What are the disadvantages of hydrocarbon polymer sealers?
Sealer properties depend on polymer structures. Oil borne stains, such as vegetable oil, lubrication oil, mineral grease, are hydrocarbon molecules. Oil borne stains can be dissolved in hydrocarbon polymer matrix. Therefore, hydrocarbon polymer sealers are lack of stain-blocking ability for oil borne stains. Therefore, small molecular perfluoro-surfactants or perfluoro-acid salts (PFOA, PFOS) are mixed in to shown the initial oil repellence. However, Those PFOA or PFOS are small molecular weight surfactants, they do not bond on the porous surfaces. PFOA or PFOS are easily leached out by water. The added perfluoro-chemicals do not provide durable oil repellence. Therefore, any sealer made of hydrocarbon polymer can not provide durable oil repellence. Other common disadvantage of hydrocarbon polymers are UV decomposition. They are unstable under sun light. Hydrocarbon sealers have short life-span. Third disadvantage of hydrocarbon sealers are bio- digestible. For avoid decomposition by m
