MC-Bauchemie MC-Color EC
A flexible, breathable anti-carbonation coating from MC-Bauchemie that shields exposed concrete from CO2 ingress while bridging fine surface cracks.
What is it?
A water-based, elastomeric acrylic protective coating from MC-Bauchemie that slows carbonation of concrete and bridges hairline cracks on the surface.
Where is it used?
Exposed reinforced-concrete facades, bridge and flyover surfaces, car-park soffits, and coastal or repaired structures across Delhi NCR and pan-India.
Why use it?
It keeps atmospheric carbon dioxide and driving rain out of the cover concrete while staying flexible enough to follow minor substrate movement, extending the life of the reinforcement.
How is it applied?
Roller, brush or airless spray in two to three coats over a compatible primer, on a clean, sound, properly cured concrete surface.
About MC-Bauchemie MC-Color EC
MC-Color EC is MC-Bauchemie’s answer to a problem every structural engineer in India recognises: reinforced concrete that looks fine on the surface but is quietly carbonating from the inside out. As carbon dioxide works its way into the cover concrete, it drops the pH around the steel, strips away the passive protective layer, and lets corrosion begin. This coating is an elastomeric, water-based acrylic film that sits on the concrete as a barrier, dramatically slowing the rate at which CO2 and wind-driven rain can penetrate, while still letting water vapour escape so the structure can breathe and dry.
What sets it apart from a plain decorative paint is the elastomeric backbone. Ordinary rigid coatings look good on day one but split the moment a shrinkage or thermal crack opens beneath them, opening a direct path for moisture and gas. MC-Color EC is formulated to stretch and bridge fine cracks in the substrate, so it keeps its protective continuity through the daily heating and cooling that Indian facades, bridges and car parks endure. It is supplied ready to use, applies by roller, brush or airless spray, and cures to a tough, UV-stable, low-dirt-pickup finish available in a wide range of tones for facades where appearance matters as much as durability.
The technical insight
The protection comes down to two competing transport properties that the coating deliberately unbalances. Carbon dioxide diffusion is expressed as an equivalent air-layer thickness (Sd CO2): the higher this figure, the more “air” the CO2 has to cross before it reaches the concrete, so a high Sd CO2 means slow carbonation. Water-vapour diffusion is expressed the same way (Sd H2O), and here you want the opposite, a low value, so trapped moisture can leave the structure. MC-Color EC is engineered to hold a high resistance to carbon dioxide while keeping vapour resistance low, which is exactly the combination EN 1504-2 asks for in a Principle 1 (protection against ingress) coating. Layer the elastomeric film’s crack-bridging on top of that, and the barrier does not just resist gas on a flat surface, it stays intact across the hairline cracks that would otherwise short-circuit any rigid system.
Where it is used
- Anti-carbonation protection of reinforced-concrete building facades and render surfaces
- Bridge decks, piers, girders and flyover concrete exposed to traffic pollution and weather
- Multi-storey and basement car-park facades, soffits and columns
- Protective, colour-matched overcoat above patch-repair and micro-concrete zones
- External surfaces of coastal and marine-adjacent structures facing chloride-laden air
- Water-retaining and treatment structures on their external, weather-exposed faces
- Industrial and infrastructure concrete needing a durable, low-maintenance finish
- Refurbishment of aged facades where both protection and a fresh appearance are required
Key advantages
- Slows carbonation by presenting a high resistance to carbon dioxide diffusion, protecting embedded steel
- Elastomeric film bridges fine hairline and shrinkage cracks, maintaining an unbroken barrier
- Breathable and open to water-vapour diffusion, so the substrate can dry rather than trap moisture
- Water-based and low-odour, making it practical for occupied buildings and enclosed car parks
- UV-stable with good colour retention and low dirt pick-up, keeping facades cleaner for longer
- Applies easily by roller, brush or airless spray, suiting both small repairs and large elevations
- Conforms to EN 1504-2 as a surface-protection coating, backing specification with a recognised standard
- Wide colour range lets the protective system double as the architectural finish
Limitations & considerations
- It is a surface protection coating, not a structural repair; active cracks and spalled concrete must be repaired first
- Crack-bridging is limited to fine hairline movement, not wide or live structural joints that need a dedicated sealant
- Being water-based, it needs dry conditions and temperatures above roughly 10 C during application and cure, so monsoon and cold snaps stall work
- Adhesion depends entirely on surface preparation and a compatible primer; laitance, dust or damp substrate will cause failure
- It does not waterproof against standing water or hydrostatic pressure and is not a substitute for a tanking or deck membrane
Selection & best practice
Success with MC-Color EC is decided before the first coat goes on. Start with a sound, clean, fully cured substrate: remove laitance, dust, oil and any loose or carbonated concrete, and make good all defects with the appropriate MC-Bauchemie repair mortar. New concrete should be allowed to cure adequately before coating. Apply the recommended primer to seal and even out substrate absorption, then apply the coating in two to three full, evenly spread coats, respecting the overcoating interval between each so the film builds to the specified thickness. Work in dry weather, avoid application in direct harsh sun or when rain is imminent within the drying window, and keep a wet edge to prevent lap marks on large elevations. Confirm the exact primer, coat count and consumption for your job against the current MC-Bauchemie technical data sheet, since these vary with surface texture and porosity.
Specifications
| Product type | Water-based elastomeric acrylic anti-carbonation coating |
| Brand | MC-Bauchemie |
| Standard | EN 1504-2 (surface protection, Principle 1 – protection against ingress) |
| Crack-bridging | Fine hairline cracks, in the region of 0.2 mm |
| Carbon dioxide resistance | High Sd CO2 (equivalent air-layer thickness) to retard carbonation |
| Water-vapour diffusion | Low Sd H2O – breathable / open to vapour |
| Finish | UV-stable, low dirt pick-up, wide colour range |
| Application method | Roller, brush or airless spray |
| System | Primer plus 2-3 coats of MC-Color EC |
Industry use cases
Bridges & Flyovers
Protects deck edges, piers and girders from carbonation and traffic-borne pollution while flexing with daily thermal movement, a fit for infrastructure work under IRC-aligned specifications.
Commercial Facades
Gives exposed RCC and rendered elevations a durable, colour-stable protective finish that stays clean and resists weathering across NCR’s harsh summers and monsoon.
Car Parks
Coats soffits, columns and facades in multi-storey and basement parking, where low odour and breathability matter in enclosed, occupied spaces.
Coastal & Marine-Adjacent
Adds a barrier against chloride-laden coastal air on the external faces of structures near the sea, complementing the reinforcement protection of the concrete cover.
Repair & Refurbishment
Serves as the unifying, colour-matched overcoat above patch repairs and micro-concrete, tying the protection and appearance of a rehabilitated facade together.
Frequently asked questions
Is MC-Color EC a waterproofing coating?
How is it different from ordinary exterior wall paint?
Does it need a primer?
What crack widths can it bridge?
How many coats and how much material will I need?
Can Space Arc supply and apply it across India?
How we position MC-Bauchemie MC-Color EC
MC-Color EC sits in the MC-Bauchemie surface-protection family alongside the rigid, non-crack-bridging anti-carbonation coatings (the MC-Color Proof and MC-Color Flair lines) and companion products such as the MC primer and MC-Bauchemie repair mortars and micro-concretes used to make good the substrate before coating. Choose the elastomeric MC-Color EC when the substrate carries fine cracks or sees thermal movement; choose a rigid MC-Color coating when the concrete is stable and only gas and rain resistance are needed. Where a project is specified around another manufacturer, Space Arc also carries genuinely comparable anti-carbonation coatings from Fosroc (the Dekguard range) and other brands we distribute, so we can match whatever the consultant’s specification calls for.
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