Fosroc Acid Etch
Inhibited acid-based concrete remover, cleaner and surface-etching agent for preparing floors before resin coatings and stripping mortar, stains and rust.
What is it?
An acid-based liquid that blends acid, corrosion inhibitors and dispersing agents into a clear green solution used to clean, strip and etch concrete and steel surfaces.
Where is it used?
Industrial and commercial floors, brickwork, ready-mix trucks and mixers, hand tools, and steelwork across construction sites in Delhi NCR and Pan-India.
Why use it?
It opens up the concrete surface to give a mechanical key for resin coatings, removes mortar splashes, stains and rust, and contains inhibitors so it is gentler on glass, plastic, rubber and most base metals than raw acid.
How is it applied?
Diluted with water typically 1:1 to 1:4 by volume, pre-wet the surface, scrub or brush on, let it react, then wash down thoroughly with clean water.
About Fosroc Acid Etch
Fosroc Acid Etch is a ready-to-dilute acid-based concrete remover, cleaning and etching agent supplied as a clear green solution. It is formulated from an acid base combined with corrosion inhibitors and dispersing agents, which is what separates it from the diluted hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid) commonly used informally on Indian sites. The inhibitor package reduces uncontrolled attack on glass, plastic, rubber and most base metals, while the dispersing agents help lift and float away dissolved cement, laitance, stains and oxide so they rinse off cleanly. In Fosroc’s India catalogue the product is closely related to Reebaklens, the locally branded equivalent etching and cleaning agent with the same chemistry and dilution range. For Space Arc Engineering clients, the most valuable role of Acid Etch is floor preparation: before any Nitoflor epoxy or PU coating, or any resin screed is laid, the slab must be free of laitance and curing-compound residue and must present a roughened, open profile. Acid Etch dissolves the weak surface laitance layer and micro-etches the matrix so the coating can grip mechanically rather than just sit on a smooth, contaminated face. The same liquid doubles as a site housekeeping product, cutting hardened concrete off mixer drums, barrows, ready-mix trucks and hand tools, and stripping rust and mill scale off steelwork ahead of priming. It is non-flammable, has a shelf life of at least 12 months in sealed original containers, and is supplied in 0.5, 1 and 20 litre packs.
The technical insight
The performance logic of Acid Etch is a controlled acid-base reaction with the calcium compounds in cement paste. The acid attacks the surface laitance and free lime, fizzing as it converts them into soluble salts and CO2; the dispersing agents keep the reaction products in suspension so they wash away instead of re-depositing as a powdery film that would defeat coating adhesion. The corrosion inhibitors are the commercial differentiator from neat HCl: they slow the reaction at the metal interface, so the product is less aggressive to embedded steel, tool fittings, glass and rubber, though Fosroc still warns against prolonged contact with zinc and aluminium parts such as rivets, and against acid vapour from the undiluted concentrate which can rust unprotected steel nearby. The reaction is self-limiting once the available free lime is consumed, which is why a thorough clean-water wash and, for coating work, a neutral pH check are essential before resin is applied. The specific gravity of typically 1.08 at 20 degrees C indicates a relatively dilute concentrate, and the 1:1 to 1:4 dilution band lets the applicator dial reaction intensity to the contamination level rather than over-etching. Because etching alters surface finish, Fosroc’s guidance is to use the minimum effective concentration.
Where it is used
- Etching concrete floors and surfaces to remove laitance and create a mechanical key before epoxy, PU or resin coatings
- Removing mortar, plaster runs, droppings and cement stains from brickwork and concrete
- Stripping hardened concrete from ready-mix trucks, transit mixers, concrete mixers, barrows and formwork
- Cleaning hardened concrete and slurry off hand tools by overnight dip
- Removing rust and mill scale from structural steel and reinforcement prior to coating
- Pre-treating oil- and grease-contaminated garage and workshop floors to improve degreaser action
Key advantages
- Rapid concrete etching and cleaning action
- Inhibited formulation gives no corrosive action on glass, plastic, rubber and most base metals
- Dispersing agents lift dissolved cement and stains so they rinse away cleanly
- Strips hardened concrete from tools, mixers and ready-mix plant, reducing manual chipping
- Adjustable 1:1 to 1:4 dilution lets you match intensity to the contamination
- Non-flammable and supplied ready to dilute with water on site
- Long 12-month shelf life in sealed original containers
Limitations & considerations
- Acid-based and corrosive to skin and eyes; PPE (gloves, goggles, protective clothing) is mandatory
- Undiluted acid vapour can rust unprotected steel and damage nearby surfaces
- Avoid prolonged contact with zinc, aluminium and galvanised parts
- Etching alters the concrete surface finish, so the minimum effective concentration must be used
- Requires thorough clean-water rinsing (and neutral pH for coating work) before any resin is applied
- Not effective on oil or grease alone; a chemical degreaser plus water or steam cleaning is needed first
- Needs adequate ventilation; not suited to poorly ventilated enclosed spaces without precautions
Selection & best practice
Always run a small trial patch first to fix the right dilution, since concrete porosity and contamination vary widely between Indian site mixes. Pre-wet the surface so the acid reacts at the surface rather than soaking deep, dilute to between 1:1 and 1:4 by volume, and scrub on with a stiff-bristle broom or sponge. For floor preparation before a Nitoflor or other resin coating, allow the reaction to finish, then wash down immediately and thoroughly with clean water, and confirm the slab is back to a neutral pH and fully dry before priming. Use the minimum concentration that does the job to avoid over-etching, wear gloves and goggles, keep the concentrate away from zinc/aluminium fittings, ventilate enclosed areas, and hose down spillages with plenty of water.
Specifications
| Product type | Acid-based concrete remover, cleaning and etching agent |
| Composition | Acid-based material with corrosion inhibitors and dispersing agents |
| Appearance / colour | Clear green solution |
| Specific gravity | Typically 1.08 at 20 degrees C |
| Dilution range | 1:1 to 1:4 (Acid Etch to water, by volume) |
| Etching coverage (typical) | Approx. 1 litre diluted solution per 2 sq.m (varies with etch required) |
| Rust / mill scale reaction time | 20 to 40 minutes per application (repeat if needed) |
| Flammability | Non-flammable |
| Packaging | 0.5, 1 and 20 litre containers |
| Shelf life | At least 12 months unopened in original containers |
Industry use cases
Industrial flooring contractors
Etching new and existing concrete slabs in warehouses and factories to remove laitance and create a key before Fosroc Nitoflor epoxy/PU coatings and self-levelling toppings.
Ready-mix and precast plants
Stripping hardened concrete build-up off transit-mixer drums, batching equipment, barrows and formwork to extend plant life and reduce manual chipping.
Steel fabrication and repair
Removing rust and mill scale from structural steel and exposed reinforcement before applying epoxy primers or anti-corrosion coatings.
Building cleaning and finishing
Cleaning mortar runs, droppings and cement stains off finished brickwork and concrete facades on commercial and residential projects.
Automotive workshops and garages
Pre-treating oil- and grease-stained workshop floors to free contamination and make subsequent degreasing and coating more effective.
Frequently asked questions
What is Fosroc Acid Etch used for?
How do I dilute Fosroc Acid Etch?
Is Fosroc Acid Etch better than ordinary muriatic (HCl) acid?
Do I need to neutralise or rinse the surface after etching?
What is the coverage and packaging for Fosroc Acid Etch?
Is Fosroc Acid Etch safe to handle?
Can Space Arc Engineering supply Fosroc Acid Etch in Delhi NCR and Pan-India?
How we position Fosroc Acid Etch
Fosroc Acid Etch sits in the surface-preparation niche, the essential step before Fosroc’s coating and flooring systems such as the Nitoflor epoxy and PU range and resin screeds, where a clean, laitance-free, keyed substrate determines coating life. Within Fosroc India it is effectively interchangeable with Reebaklens (clear blue) for general etching and cleaning, while Reebaklens RR is the dedicated rust remover for reinforcement and steel. Against competitors, it competes with Sika’s surface-prep and cleaning agents and proprietary etch/cleaner products from MBS (MYK), STP and Dr. Fixit, as well as the diluted muriatic acid still widely used informally on Indian sites. Its honest advantage over raw HCl is the inhibitor and dispersant package that gives a more controlled, lower-damage etch. Where the goal is purely mechanical profiling on large or sensitive floors, abrasive methods such as shot-blasting or diamond grinding may be specified instead of, or alongside, acid etching. Space Arc Engineering can advise whether acid etching or mechanical preparation best suits a given slab and coating system.
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