A freeze-thaw cycle is the repeated freezing and thawing of water in soil and concrete, which expands and contracts the ground and the slab, gradually shifting, cracking, and unleveling concrete.
In depth
Each time the ground freezes it swells and lifts the slab; each time it thaws the slab settles back. Over a winter this happens many times, and the constant up-and-down movement fatigues the concrete and the soil supporting it. Water that seeps into cracks and freezes also expands inside the slab itself, contributing to surface deterioration.
Freeze-thaw cycling is one of the defining challenges for concrete in cold, wet climates. It is why materials used under slabs must resist water and stay dimensionally stable through repeated cycles.
How Acme applies it. Acme’s lifting foams are engineered to resist shrinking, swelling, and washing out, so they perform well through the region’s challenging freeze-thaw cycles and changing moisture conditions.
Related terms: Frost Heave, Scaling, Concrete Cracking, Hydrophobic Foam
Frequently asked questions
Why is the freeze-thaw cycle bad for concrete?
Repeated freezing and thawing expands and contracts the soil and the slab, lifting and dropping the concrete and driving cracking and surface damage over time.
Does polyurethane hold up to freeze-thaw?
Yes. Because it is closed-cell and hydrophobic, it does not absorb water or lose strength through freeze-thaw cycles, unlike aggregate-based slurry.