Patent ID: 8097296

Claim:
A method for set retarding the surface of a mortar or concrete, comprising: A. applying to the surface of a fresh mortar or concrete, or to the inner surface of a mold for forming the fresh mortar or concrete, a flowable or sprayable hot melt coating composition comprising at least one set retarder active suspended in a melted vegetable oil or derivative thereof, a melted animal oil or derivative thereof, or a melted mixture of said oils or derivatives thereof, heated to assume a flowable or sprayable form and, once cooled to ambient temperature after contact with the fresh mortar or concrete, being solidified into a membrane and removable from the mortar or concrete by use of pressurized water, said at least one set retarder active comprising a carboxylic acid or salt thereof, a sugar, or mixture thereof; B. allowing said hot melt coating composition applied to said mortar or concrete surface to cool to ambient temperature whereby said hot melt coating composition forms a solidified membrane after the mortar or concrete in contact with the hot melt coating composition has been cooled to ambient temperature, said solidified membrane minimizing evaporation of moisture from the mortar or concrete; and C. thereafter removing said solidified membrane from the mortar or concrete using pressurized water thereby to expose a mortar or concrete surface roughened by said at least one set retarder active.