Patent ID: 8092589

Claim:
A method of preventing the evaporation of water from freshly poured mortar or concrete mixes comprising the steps of: (a) providing an aqueous emulsion wherein the dispersed phase of the emulsion comprises i) at least one petroleum-derived or synthetic paraffin wax containing saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons or mixtures therof, wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbons are of general formulae C n H 2n+2 and C n H 2n for which n is at least equal to 30 and the melting point of which is between 40° C. and 75° C., in combination with ii) at least one linear or cyclic hydrocarbon oil, of aliphatic or naphthenic origin, of general formulae C n H 2n+2 and C n H 2n for which n is less than 30, which is a liquid at room temperature; or iii) at least one oil formed from at least one ester resulting from the condensation reaction between a saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acid and a monohydric, dihydric or trihydric alcohol; or iv) a combination of (ii) and (iii); and (b) applying the aqueous emulsion to the surface of freshly poured mortar or concrete before the start of setting.