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There are two categories of concrete sealer available on the market today. There are penetrants and film formers. Penetrating sealers, such as siloxanes and silicates chemically react with the capillaries of the concrete and protect against moisture and chemicals used for deicing.They usually provide an invisible protection without changing the appearance of the surface. Penetrants are most commonly used in areas where freeze-thaw damage and corrosion would be prevalent. Film forming sealers are usually used for decorative concrete work.They do just like their name suggests, they form a protective film on the concrete surface. There are three types of concrete coating film formers, acrylic, polyurethanes and epoxies. Acrylics come in both solvent-based and water-based formulas. They are most commonly used on exterior surfaces because they are UV resistant, non yellowing and they are a great concrete water repellent sealer. They are thinner than the other two, so they wear faster and will usually require reapplication sooner. Polyurethanes also come in both water and solvent based formulas but they are twice as thick as the acrylics. They provide great resistance to abrasion and chemicals. Polyurethanes are not tolerant of moisture until they cure, so if water is present when the sealer is applied, a chemical reaction may occur resulting in bubbling and foaming. Epoxies also produce great abrasion resistance. They bond very well to concrete and cement based overlays and are a great way to add color with pigment. They do tend to yellow with UV exposure, so they are usually used on interior surfaces.