Alchatek Blog

The terms hydrophobic and hydrophilic may not mean anything to the average person. But, to a contractor, these terms can mean a world of a difference. Hydro means water while phobic means “to fear” and philic means “to love”.  Alchemy-Spetec offers both hydrophobic and hydrophilic polyurethanes, so it is important to be aware of the differences between the two types.  

Hydrophobic Polyurethanes

Hydrophobic polyurethanes naturally repel water (similar to the way oil would repel water and stay separate if you were trying to mix them in a glass). These products push water out of the area in question as they expand. Hydrophobics are used with catalysts which allow you to adjust the set time. They also have zero shrinkage after curing.

Check out these hydrophobic polyurethanes:

• AP Fill 700
• Spetec F400
• Spetec F1000
• Spetec H100 
• Spetec H40 
• AP Lift 475
• AP Lift 440
• AP Lift 430
• AP Soil 600 

Hydrophilic Polyurethanes

Hydrophilic polyurethanes naturally mix with water before curing (similar to the way gin and tonic mix thoroughly in a glass). This characteristic allows for a very strong chemical and mechanical bond, as water helps pull the material into the pores of the concrete. These products do not require a catalyst. You can pump them straight out of the pail.

Check out these hydrophilic polyurethanes:

• AP Seal 500
• Spetec GT350

Don't Oversimplify These Concepts

Don't get caught in the trap of oversimplifying hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic.  There are varying degrees of each (see chart below for more information on how this is measured) .  

Some hydrophilic materials will keep absorbing water (10-15 times their original volume).  Others (such as our AP Seal 500) only absorb as much water as is necessary for their reaction and then they reject the rest.  Yes, hydrophilic gels will shrink like crazy in the absence of water, but the AP Seal 500 won't.  It is completely safe to use in a dry environment.

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Alternately, oakum can be soaked in Alchemy Spetec leak sealing resins first, and then packed into leaking cracks and joints.  There the resin impregnated oakum will react with the water and expand to form a dense, yet flexible seal.  This seal will also keep contained, any resin that is injected behind, allowing for the injected material to stay in the crack or joint where it is intended to be.

Click here to read the Oakum Datasheet.

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In the previous post we discussed Alchemy-Spetec equipment offerings. While using the best equipment is essential, using the best accessories is just as important. Let's take a look at what's available.

Crack Injection and Soil Stabilization Accessories

• Ports for Injecting Grouts Into Concrete
  • 5/8″ Mechanical Packer
  • 1/2″ Mechanical Packer
  • 13 mm Mechanical Packer
  • 3/8″ Hammer In Port with Zerk Fitting
  • 3/8″ Plastic Drive In Port
    
    
• High Pressure Crack Injection Valve
  • Controls resin flow at the point of injection.
    
    
• Flush Wand
  • For flushing concrete dust from the holes you have drilled for crack injection.
    
    
• Oakum
  • Seals cracks and slows down gushing water during leak repair. Oakum can be used alone or in combination with leak seal resins.

Slab Lifting Accessories

• Button Head Fittings
  • Designed for high volume flow and provide a smooth working surface for easy coupler engagement & removal.
    
    
• Packers
  • For injection of chemical grouts beneath the slab.
    
    
• Couplers
  • Provide airtight seals when used with packers or hammer-in ports.

Cleaners, Flushes and Soaks

• Spetec Pump Cleaner
  • A non-flammable solvent for cleaning uncured polyurethane from injection equipment. (Read more…)
    
    
• AP Flush 125
  • For flushing out the MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun and preventing resin stains on concrete. (Read more…)
    
    
• AP Soak 130
  • Cleans cured resin from metal components. (Read more…)

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Using the best equipment is just as important as using the best material. In this post, I'll provide a brief overview of Alchemy-Spetec's equipment offerings.

Equipment Overview

MixMaster Pro

Two-component resin injection gun manufactured specifically for lifting concrete slabs and designed to handle back-pressure.  

Advantages:

• Two-component resin injection gun.
• Manufactured for lifting concrete slabs.
• Low operation cost.
• Handles back pressure.
• Built to last.

PMC Pumps

PMC plural component proportioners are used to inject AP two-component structural polyurethane foams for concrete leveling. Rugged and dependable, these pumps utilize relays and circuit breakers instead of circuit boards, vastly increasing reliability and preventing maintenance problems.

Advantages:

• Used for concrete leveling & slab stabilization.
• Rugged and dependable.
• Uses relays instead of circuit breakers (less maintenance).
• Pumps range in output from 25 lbs/min - 40 lbs/min.
• Hydraulic or pneumatic.

Titan Pumps

Modified for injecting polyurethane resin, these world-class Titan pumps are essential tools for sealing both small and gushing leaks, as well as filling voids behind and below structures.

Advantages:

• Customized for crack injection.
• Output range of .54 gal/min - 2.35 gal/min.
• Pressure range of 3300 psi - 3600 psi.
• Seals both small and gushing leaks.
• Can also be used for some soil stabilization and void fill projects.

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Acrylates were introduced in the early 80s to the waterproofing industry as a less toxic alternative to acrylamide for repairing structures. Acrylamides are sold in powder form, while acrylates come ready for use in a liquid form.

Acrylate grouts are used to stabilize soil, seal leaks in concrete and brick walls, repair joints in sanitary sewer pipe laterals, and repair rock fissures. Due to their low viscosity ratings, these acrylates can be used in a variety of applications such as industrial, commercial, and municipal.

Here is a general overview of Alchemy-Spetec acrylate grouts:

Spetec AG100

• Ideal for municipal applications.
• Repair joints in sanitary sewer pipe laterals.
• Curtain grouting and soil stabilization.
• 20 cps mixed viscosity.

Spetec AG200

• Consolidate soil and prevent erosion around floors, walls, etc.
• Curtain grouting and soil stabilization.
• Crack injection.
• 40 cps mixed viscosity.

Want more information on acrylate grouts and other leak seal products?

While similar in function, there is a difference between leak seal products and waterstop products. Waterstop products are designed to prevent water leaks from occurring, while leak seal products are designed to repair existing leaks.  

Here's an overview of Alchemy-Spetec waterstop products:

Spetec WT400

This is a caulk designed to swell and/or expand in the presence of water.  It is safe for marine environments and can be applied under water. Spetec WT400 is used to seal pipe penetrations, wall joints, and sheet pile joints. It is available in two package sizes:

12 Cartridge Case (10.5 oz)

12 Sausage Case (20 oz)

Spetec ITS Kit

The Spetec ITS Kit (Injection Tubing System) is used as a complete and primary waterstop system for post-injection sealing of construction joints in concrete. It is used to seal cold joints, expansion joints, pipe penetrations, and tunnel segment joints. This kit includes four parts:

100 lf of injection tube. 20 lf of 3/8" reinforced PVC tube. 1/4" clips (100). 12 3/8" elbow hose barbs.

Spetec SST500

This is a black hydrophilic synthetic waterproofing strip. Spetec SST500 swells up to 500% of its original size upon contact with water and is used to seal pipe penetrations as well as wall/floor joints. This product comes in two package sizes:

5 Roll Case (10 Meters) & 9 Roll Case (10 Meters)

Spetec MSA

Spetec MSA is used in conjuction with Spetec SST500 as an adhesive sealant that cures into an elastic compound with excellent adhesion to nearly all surfaces.  It is used for sealing joints between walls and slabs. This product comes in one package size:

12 Cartridge Case (9.81 oz)

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec waterstop products?

I have been in a number of elevator pits harboring around two feet of water due to water leaks. These pits are usually at or below the water table, underneath the first floor of buildings with concrete poured around them. Over time the water tables rise and fall due to seasonal changes. This causes the soil to move, creating problems in the structure. These leaks are common in commercial buildings, especially if the elevators are not properly maintained.

There are several reasons why these elevator pits spring leaks and cause problems.

One of the main causes of these leaks is faulty waterproofing that was incorrectly installed during the construction phase. This allows joints that go around the elevator pit to leak due to imperfections or cracks in the base or walls. Another cause is simply time itself. As the elevator pit ages, the waterproofing system in place naturally begins to fail. The outside membranes begin to break down and negatively affect the performance of the waterproofing system.

What Can You Do?

The solution depends on the type of structure. You're usually looking at either poured concrete walls, block walls or brick walls.

Poured Concrete Walls

In the case of concrete walls, water will seep through by way of cracks. You can counteract this problem by crack injecting with Alchemy-Spetec’s Spetec F400 or AP Seal 500. They both work well in wet conditions and are water reactive.

Block and Brick Walls

In the case of both block and brick walls, movement in the soil due to water table changes can move the individual blocks or bricks - causing gaps to occur. These gaps result in issues like leaking floor/wall joints and border joint leakage/decay. You can counteract these problems by injecting grout through the wall into the outside soil (a process called curtain wall grouting) with Alchemy-Spetec’s AP Fill 700 or Spetec H100.

All of these products can also be used as part of preventative measures during the construction phase.

Want more information on sealing leaks with Alchemy-Spetec products?

ST500 is a black hydrophilic synthetic waterproofing strip that is designed to fasten to existing joints. 

Overview

Application

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Some call it redundancy. Some call it insurance. Most everyone agrees it's a good idea.

The Alchemy-Spetec injection tube system kit (a.k.a. the I.T.S. Kit) is a great and comparatively inexpensive way to seal floor to wall joints. It is easy to install, and does not require extra parts. The attached hose can be adapted to any size joints. For tilt-up or poured in-place applications, this system can be installed prior to the placing of floor to wall or wall to floor concrete construction.

The system can be injected with Spetec H100 or AP Fill 700  once the concrete is cured as a water-stop or it can be left in place and injected if/when the joint begins to leak. Using this system, the resin will flow into any irregular formed joint. All in all, it serves as a perfect way to take care of any problematic joint.

Did I mention that there is virtually no risk of damage or interruption occurring during your construction process? 

Redundancy? Insurance? Whatever you want to call it, it's a great idea to include on all your concrete floor to wall or wall to floor applications. 

Want more information on the I.T.S. Kit and other Alchemy-Spetec waterstop products?

 The Problem

Structural concrete cracks are often caused by shrinkage occurring while concrete dries if not mixed properly, thermal contraction/expansion due to seasonal temperature changes, and sub-grade settlement (changes in the soil that is supporting the structure). If not repaired, these types of cracks can expand and cause structural instability. Using epoxy resin for crack repair provides a durable and effective solution to stabilize and restore the integrity of the concrete.

The Solutions

Epicol T

As I mentioned in my recent blog article on this product...

Epicol T is a putty with a simple mixing ratio that's primarily used for surface sealing cracks before the application of Epicol INJ for structural repair. Due to its malleability, it can be worked even after curing to fix mishaps. Its adhesive power is extremely high and once fully cured for a few hours it will become hard and impermeable. (Epicol T can also be applied underwater. It sticks to wood, stone, concrete and metal.)

Click here to read more on Epicol T...

Epicol INJ LV

Here's how I described this product in a recent blog post...

Epicol INJ LV is a low-viscosity, long pot life epoxy resin designed for the structural bonding of cracks and micro cracks in dry or wet concrete. The low-viscosity allows this epoxy resin to deeply penetrate micro cracks and the long pot life allows the material to be injected as a single component. It has good chemical resistance to alkalis, petroleum derivatives, acid, diluted organic acids, salts and other solutions.

Click here to read more on Epicol INJ LV...

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