Careers Business Ownership Bond Breakers and How They Are Used Share PINTEREST Email Print SimplyCreativePhotography / Getty Images Business Ownership Industries Construction Retail Small Business Restauranting Real Estate Nonprofit Organizations Landlords Import/Export Business Freelancing & Consulting Franchises Food & Beverage Event Planning eBay E-commerce Operations & Success Becoming an Owner By Juan Rodriguez Juan Rodriguez LinkedIn University of Puerto Rico DeVry University Juan Rodriguez is a former writer with The Balance who covered large-scale construction. He is an engineer with experience managing and overseeing large civil works construction. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 08/05/19 A bond breaker is a substance applied to concrete surfaces to guarantee that there is permanent bonding between the surfaces. Bond breakers are normally used on tilt-up walls and precast segments to ensure the right pieces are cast together. Bond breakers will allow lifting and moving of precast pieces after stripping them from the form. How Bond Breakers Work Bond breakers are used over concrete surfaces to eliminate or reduce the cracking of slabs due to temperature and moisture fluctuations. Bond breakers also avoid shrinkage cracks on tilt-up walls. Bond breakers are applied on surfaces that will be eventually joined together since once the concrete is poured, they will be inseparable. Bond breakers are available in different forms, such as liquid, spray, rods, and tape Bond breakers are engineered products that form a membrane, allowing the surfaces to be separated easily. In some countries wax, petroleum-based substances or grease are used as bond breakers, but these chemicals will change characteristics of the surfaces on which they are applied. Advantages Bond breakers will offer you some additional advantage such as: Reducing the amount of time needed to move loadsEnsuring surfaces are sprayed efficientlyThe ability to re-use the form multiple timesPreserving the characteristics of the concrete surface, allowing them to be painted or modified using other architectural componentsAllows and will not affect the adhesion of epoxy, adhesives and/or floor finishes Considerations When Purchasing If you are planning to buy a bond breaker, have in mind the following factors before making a decision: How much will the weather vary during the concrete pour? How does the bond breaker material need to be stored? How fast does the bond breaker dry once it has been applied? How will the finished concrete product be used and what type of chemicals, including sealants, adhesives, and coatings, will be applied on top of the concrete surface after the concrete has been poured? What warranty is offered by the manufacturer? Are there VOC requirements that need to be addressed? Types Bond breakers are classified into two major groups: membrane-forming and non-membrane forming. They can also be divided into water-based or non-water based products. Membrane forming bond breakers will hold water in the casting slab, and they are formulated to meet ASTM C-309, the standard specification for liquid-membrane-forming compounds. These types of bond breakers are made of crude resins to form the thin film. Non-membrane bond breakers are subdivided into reactive and non-reactive. The reactive bond breaker will react, forming a crude soap. The non-reactive bond breaker will interact with the concrete surface and generate a waterproof surface.