Alchatek Blog

A lot of customers have recently been asking about the hand sanitizer that we sell vs. others they are finding on the market. It turns out that there can be a significant difference. For example, my parents bought a 16 oz bottle of ethyl-based hand sanitizer from the grocery store, and after reading through the label, we realized there was a critical differentiator between that version and the one we sell.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, hand sanitizers deemed most effective against COVID-19 pathogens contain 80% ethanol or 75% isopropyl by volume. The brand that my parents bought, as well as a few other popular offerings I researched, contained between 60-70% ethyl by volume. This formula, according to the CDC, is not as effective against the current outbreak.

On the other hand, our FDA-approved hand sanitizer contains 75% isopropyl by volume.  This hand sanitizer was formulated specifically according to the World Health Organization guidelines for killing COVID-19.

Why Do Seawalls Deteriorate?

The Elements
Salt corrosion, tidal action, currents, boat wakes, storm surges and heavy rain events all deliver a constant beating on the seawall. Every time it rains, or the irrigation system runs, and every time the tide goes out; all of the groundwater above the waterline has to vent or equalize. Tremendous pressures can build up if that water is trapped and cannot make its way into the sea or the storm water system.

Structural Aging
Correct construction of a seawall includes a drainage system to handle the bulk of the water that comes from rain in addition to check valves, weep holes, or seams to handle the daily influx and outflow from tide and wave action. Over time the materials degrade or can be disturbed by settling. The result is a loss of soil and the inevitable sinkholes and / or low spots that will occur along the wall. Other times, the weep holes and vents become clogged and the water has no way to escape except to force its way down and out from underneath the base of the wall. When this occurs there will again be sinkholes and sometimes wall failure.

Why Use Polyurethane for Seawall Repair?

Non-Intrusive Application
Polyurethane can be injected through pipes directly into voids and loose sandy soil using small portable equipment.

Proven Solution
Seawall repair resins are used extensively seal cracks, voids and defects as well as for filling voids and stabilizing the soil.

Creates an Impermeable Mass
Polyurethane seals leaks along the wall, fills the voids that have occurred, and mixes with the soil to form a solid, impermeable mass.

What Are the Results of Polyurethane Seawall Repair?

Long Lasting Solution
Alchemy-Spetec seawall repair resins cure to a strength greater than crystalline bedrock. Combined with proper drainage, this method can greatly extend the life of your seawall.

Water Tight Seawall
The resin reacts with water or moisture in the soil and expands to fill voids while it permeates sandy soil to form a solid, strong, watertight mass.

Environmentally Safe
Alchemy-Spetec offers seawall repair resins that are approved for contact with drinking water (certified to NSF 61-5). That means they can be used anywhere without having an adverse effect on water quality.

Watch this brief overview of the polyurethane seawall repair process.

Want more information on seawall repair with polyurethane?

I just came off my first ever solo field service as a consultant for one of our contractor customers.  The story starts as all good ones do... 

I'm on a parking garage renovation project in Sacramento, California. It’s cold, it’s loud. This is my contractor's first time ever touching polyurethane injection resin.

I arrive with our regional distributor.  We have several pails of Spetec PUR H100 and Spetec PUR F400 (our rigid and flexible foams) in tow.  We begin the process of curatin wall grouting a part of the parking garage that will eventually be converted into an IT server room.

The injection process seemed to be going along just as planned, when suddenly...well...let's just say I’ll never forget the face of one of the crew as some injection resin shot out of the wall and 10 feet through the air!

The fun thing to take from this is that I very quickly remembered a crucial part of my safety training: I need to keep my arms covered. This is not a profession in which you want to walk around a job site with short sleeves. It turned out I had a very expensive wax treatment to go along with my field service!  Aside from this little mishap, the job went well and the customer was extremely happy due to the high-quality tech service provided.  (In addition to my extensive training, I have all the senior Alchemy-Spetec leak seal experts on speed dial).

I said during my Alchemy-Spetec job interview that some day I wanted to be like our Director of Technical Services - Leak Division, Charlie Lerman.  Well here I am, traveling, servicing, succeeding...and occasionallly scraping off the resin afterward.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec leak seal products?

Maintenance managers at schools and universities should be keenly aware of the dangers posed by sunken concrete slabs.  Campus walkway slabs can settle and create trip hazards for students and teachers.  Sunken concrete parking lot slabs can create trip hazards and damage vehicles.

Alchemy-Spetec provides high-strength polyurethane concrete leveling foam to contractors all over North America.  These highly trained professionals can spot danger areas during a routine inspection and lift concrete back into place if the slab is still intact and the conditions allow.  Given our extensive customer base, we can very likely help you find a contractor.

Wherever your campus is located, we'll do our best to connect you with a contractor in your area who can perform an inspection and provide you with a repair estimate.

Call Alchemy-Spetec now at 404-618-0438 or...

Click below, fill out a form for a slab lift brochure & we'll contact you ASAP.

Are you in the market for a tough and compact slab lifting system?  The PolyBadger is a reliable entry-level choice for new lifting companies focusing on small jobs.  It's also a great system for larger companies facing out-of-the-way jobs that may prohibit the use of a large rig. 

Benefits of the PolyBadger over a standard rig:

• Lower Initial Investment
• Less Equipment Needed
• Easily Fitted To Truck, Trailer or Cart

In addition, the PolyBadger has considerable advantages over competing mobile cart systems.  Talk to an Alchemy-Spetec rep for comparisons to any other cart system you are considering.

Want more info on the PolyBadger?

Ready for an entertaining story?  Well, buckle up, because this is a good one.  As the Western Regional Rep for Alchemy-Spetec, I usually keep product samples and mixing supplies in the trunk of my car.  I recently took my car in to the dealer for an oil change.  My girlfriend drove me home after I dropped the car off.  A few hours later, we picked the car up, went home and started getting ready to attend an Arizona Coyotes hockey game. 

I checked my voicemail after getting out of the shower.  I was surprised to hear very frantic sounding messages from my parents, the dealership, and um...the police!  My mother's voicemail went something like this: "Michael!  The police are at our house questioning us about possible bomb making supplies in your car?!!  What's going on?!!"  The message from the dealership was a bit more measured: "Michael.  You need to call us back IMMEDIATELY.  This is extremely serious.  Please call us the minute you get this voicemail."  It all became clear with the next message from the police department: "This is officer (name withheld for obvious reasons). I have a report that there were some suspicious chemicals in your trunk. Give me call at your earliest convenience."

I called the officer back first, at the number he provided.  I got his voicemail, so I left my explanation and contact info.  Then I called my mother to calm her down.  Finally, I called the dealership for a full explanation.  The manager, who knows me well and knows what I do for a living, laid it all out for me.  Apparently, an employee who doesn't know me too well decided to take a look in the trunk while they were doing the oil change.  Alarmed at what looked like suspicious chemicals, he quickly slammed the trunk shut, not sure what to do.  He said nothing to management.  His shift ended shortly thereafter.  He met up with some friends and told them this exciting story about possibly finding bomb making chemicals in the back of a car he was working on.  One of his friends became concerned and alerted the police.

Meanwhile, I had tickets to a hockey game.  I had replied to the officer's message, and with the knowledge that they had already been in contact with my friend who managed the dealership, I figured it was safe to catch the Coyotes game.  I would follow up again afterwards.  After watching my hockey team kick some butt (yes, we won), I was back home settling in when I heard a knock at the door.  It was, of course, the police.  To be honest, I was relieved to finally be able to explain everything directly to them.  I invited them in and started showing them product samples, etc.  They seemed to believe me at this point, but still asked me to come down to the department and do some mixing demos to show them exactly how the products work.  So, I did!  And that, my friends, is how I ended up giving product demos at a police station.  I can now rest assured that, if they ever have any concrete slab, soil or waterproofing issues - I will be the first person they call!  Who said working is chemical grouts wasn't exciting?

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Alchemy-Spetec waterstop products prevent leaks from occurring and are most often applied during construction. In this post, we discuss the following waterstop products: 

• Spetec WT400
• Spetec ITS Kit
• Spetec R-ITS
• Spetec SST500

Spetec WT400

Spetec WT400 is a caulk designed to swell and/or expand in the presence of water creating a water tight seal around pipe penetrations, cold joints and other water-stop locations. Read more about Spetec WT400 here.

Spetec ITS Kit

The Spetec Injection Tube System Kit is used in conjunction with the Spetec PUR F400 or Spetec PUR H100 as a primary waterstop in cold joints and pipe joints. This system can also be used in retrofit applications for expansion joints and other wide cracks or joints measuring over 3/8 of an inch. It 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.

Read more about the Spetec ITS Kit here.

Spetec R-ITS

The Spetec Re-Injectable Tube System is a primary waterstop in cold joints and pipe joints. When used with acrylates like Spetec AG200, it can be flushed with water at a pre-determined set time, creating a clean tube ready for subsequent use. It can also function as a standard single-use injection tube system with polyurethane injection resins like Spetec PUR H100 and Spetec PUR F400. The Spetec R-ITS is compatible with combination grouting techniques involving microfine cement. Read more about the Spetec R-ITS here.

Spetec SST500

Spetec SST500 is a black hydrophilic synthetic waterproofing strip. It is simply fastened onto an existing joint. When in contact with water in a confined space, SST500 will swell and stop the infiltration. SST500 remains consistent in its performance throughout its life cycle and the flexibility allows it to fill voids and cracks in the immediate surrounding area. Read more about Spetec SST500 here.

For ultimate waterstop protection, call Alchemy-Spetec at 404-618-0438 for instructions on how to use all three of these products together.

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec waterstop solutions?

Exclusively available to customers buying Alchemy-Spetec lifting foam, the MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun provides you with significant advantages over your competition.

Save Time, Hassle and Money

Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight! Sprayfoam insulation guns are made for the simple process of spraying foam at constant pressures. Slab lifting requires a gun that is designed to deal with changing pressures and back pressure without backing up or crossing over. Issues like leaky port connections, constant cleaning, and constant fumbling around with a clamp can drastically reduce production - adding a lot of man hours to each project. Not to mention long nights spent rebuilding and cleaning the gun after EVERY job. Did we mention that feeling in the pit of your stomach every time you have to call in yet another expensive replacement parts order? 
- MixMaster Pro Slab Lifting Gun Means Less Hassle and More Production.  Read more!

Stainless Steel Gun Block Available

The new stainless-steel block for the MixMaster Pro concrete leveling gun is an option you may want to consider. This stronger, more durable gun block was developed to prevent stripping of injector ports (which can sometimes happen with the aluminum block if the ports are over-tightened). 
- Bigger, Better, Stronger - The Stainless Steel MixMaster Gun Block. Read more!

Want more info on the MixMaster Pro concrete leveling gun?

Concrete Leveling & Stabilization for Showroom Floors

Do you own or manage a business with concrete showroom floors? Auto dealers, large wholesale stores, convention centers and other businesses need strong and stable floor slabs to function properly. Unstable slabs can put merchandise, customers and even ownership at risk.  See our two-part blog series on trip hazards and litigation risks...
Concrete Leveling to Prevent Trip Hazards & Litigation Risks - Part 1
Concrete Leveling to Prevent Trip Hazards & Litigation Risks - Part 2

You should also understand the larger danger of complete slab collapse if the voids underneath your floor are large enough. See this stunning security cam footage from the National Corvette Museum for an example in action. Ownership was completely unaware of the large voids that eventually caused this showroom floor to collapse, taking all those Corvettes with it.

Concrete Leveling & Stabilization Contractors

Alchemy-Spetec can help you find a contractor to detect, level, and stabilize slabs at risk. Even if you aren't noticing any immediate problems, it may be worth getting your slabs tested for dangerous voids lurking beneath. Call us now at 404-618-0438 for help finding a contractor in your area!

Want more info on commercial & industrial slab repair?

The Alchemy-Spetec structural repair product line consists of products for joint filling, spall repair, anchoring, and bonding.

Poyurea Joint Filler

AP Joint Fill 800 is a two-component hybrid polyurea joint filler with fast reaction allowing for shave time in as little as 5 minutes. The fast reaction allows for minimal down time and facilities to be in operation quickly.  Read more...

Polyurethane Spall Repair

AP Fast Repair 850 is a zero VOC, two-component polyurethane system. The high-quality thermoset is designed for fast repair of concrete (spalls, cracks, etc.). Its low viscosity allows for maximum penetration into cracks and porous concrete. This product can be mixed with up to equal parts oven dry silica sand to increase product yield and compressive strength.  Read more...

Non-Sag Epoxy for Structural Anchoring/Bonding

AP NS950 Epoxy is a two component, non-sag structural epoxy designed to offer exceptional mechanical strength in anchoring/bonding applications. Due to its high bond strength to concrete, it is ideal to use for anchoring threaded rod or rebar dowels. The consistency of AP NS950 EPOXY is good for capping for crack injection or general surface repairs. AP NS950 EPOXY is 100% solids, VOC free and Butyl Glycidyl Ether (BGE)* free.  Read more...

Low-Viscosity Expoxy for Structural Bonding of Cracks

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?