Alchatek Blog

National Sanitation Foundation develops public health standards and certification programs that help protect the world’s food, water, consumer products and environment.

On some jobs, it can be very important for you to make sure the products you use meet NSF/ANSI 61-5 standards for contact with drinking water. This testing covers all products that will be used in or around drinking water from source to tap. We have eight products that are NSF approved. These products are used for crack injection, curtain wall grouting and slab lifting.

The products are as follows:

A few years back I received a call from a large tunnel contractor asking me if we had NSF approval on our products.  They were using a competitors product and were having problems with what they were using. This particular tunnel was tasked with bringing all of the drinking water from upstate New York into New York City.  I set up a meeting with the contractor and the DEP to go over our products.  As it turned out, they accepted our product and are still using it to this day in potable water applications for this tunnel and many more. 

It can also be important to have NSF approval on products that don't come into contact with drinking water, in order to be sure they're safe for the environment in general.  Having NSF approval on your products is important and a market differentiator. 

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

One thing we pride ourselves in here at Alchemy-Spetec is offering full, four wheel drive marketing support. We don't make money unless YOU do, so we're happy to help you get the word out about your concrete repair services. When talking to customers, I often hear the following question: "What's the best way to get leads for my business?" Obviously, there are many ways. One of the most effective, however, is creating content that your potential customers will find helpful. One of the best ways to do that is to start a blog. Very often I sense hesitation after I make that suggestion. Sounds like a lot of work, right? We can tell you from experience that it's worth it. Here are a few reasons why...

A blog is a great way to increase your leads. Especially if you update it frequently and use search friendly terms in your article titles. Search engines prefer websites that are consitently updated with useful content. The more articles you publish, the more you increase your chances of being found by someone searching those subjects you write about. You will also establish yourself as an authority on in your area, which makes the selling process that much easier. Make sure you request your reader’s contact info at the end of each blog post in exchange for a brochore or some other valuable download.

If you'd like tips on setting up a blog, establishing a posting schedule and getting ideas for content; give us a call at 404-618-0438.

Want more tips on marketing your contracting business?

Winter is coming fast and it is already the time of year when winter storms are a possibility. High winds, heavy rain, high tidal changes and large waves have already begun in some of the coastal areas of the country. Winter weather plays havoc with our beaches and shorelines and our seawalls really take a beating.

Alchemy-Spetec can help. We make soil stabilization resins that can stop erosion of unstable soils and sand. We can help stabilize the areas behind seawalls suffering from soil erosion and settling. AP Fill 700, AP Soil 600, Spetec PUR H40 and Spetec PUR H100 are just a few of the resins we have to address soil stabilization, erosion and water leak issues. We also have the AP Lift 430, AP Lift 440 and AP Lift 475 lifting resins to raise areas like concrete structures that have sink due to erosion.

Don’t wait for potential problems to become worse or serious. Let us offer you solutions with our powerful polymers and painless procedures that will give you rapid results. A lasting repair and peace of mind for your soil stabilization problems are only part of what we do.

At Alchemy-Spetec, we’ve got your back!

Want more information on soil stabilization?

It’s the end of the year and soon there will be all kinds of awards being given out for the best this and most valuable that, etc etc.   In that spirit I want to nominate AP Lift 430 as Product of the Year for the polyurethane industry.

Now some of you may think that’s kind of a bold move; but it’s also my blog post and I didn’t hear any other nominations.  Let me make the case:

Why a 3 Pound Density Foam?

We didn’t randomly make a decision to manufacture a 3 lb density slab lifting foam.  This was a calculated decision based on what we were hearing from contractors in the field and what we were able to do in the lab. 

Early in the history of Alchemy Polymers (one of the predecessors to Alchemy-Spetec), we manufactured only heavier density lifting foams to go along with our lines of leak sealing and soil stabilization resins.  The reason being that our focus was on the commercial, industrial, and transportation segments of the market. 

More Lifting Power Than Higher Density Foams

As we became more aware of the potential in the residential market, we decided to make a superior lifting foam for that sector as well.  Feedback from contractors using 2 lb and 2.5 lb density lifting foams seemed to indicate that they experienced too many callbacks - lifting jobs that resettled.  We also found out that some contractors were using foams that were not designed to work in wet conditions.  If they wanted something to work when it was wet; they had to pay a premium.   

Contractors were also told that these lighter density foams would increase in density as they pumped more under the slab, and that is true.  But it also means having to put a lot more material under the slab to ultimately get it to a density strong enough for the job.

From this information we developed AP Lift 430.  Working with our chemist, we were able to create a 3 lb density foam that had higher lifting pressures than even our 4.75 lb workhorse, AP Lift 475.  Clearly, this is not a product for snowflakes or wimps.

We also designed it to meet DOT specifications: Hydrophobic (displaces water and works in wet environments), 90% Strength in 15 Minutes, traffic ready in 45 minutes, and NO shrinkage.  One other thing… we don’t cut corners or put recycled materials in products to save cost.  Our green statement is that you only have to do the job once. 

NSF / ANSI 61 Approved for Contact with Drinking Water

In 2017, AP Lift 430 really shined for us.  Easily our number one product for residential slab lifting, its combination of excellent expansion rate for filling voids and high lifting power has made it the go to product for contractors.  Once you try it; you won’t go back.  It literally gets more done with less material required. 

And now...AP Lift 430 is officially NSF / ANSI 61 approved.  This means it is approved for contact with drinking water and that it is also the SAFEST slab lifting polyurethane to have installed around your family and pets.  Ask your current supplier if their product is NSF approved and I think you’ll find that it’s not.

Tired of callbacks? Tired of foams that shrink and fail in wet environments? Tired of foams made by insulation experts rather than geotechnical experts?  Make the move to something safer and more powerful - AP Lift 430 and the rest of our Lift series foams.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec slab lifting products?

Polyurethane chemical grouts fall into two categories when it comes to how they relate with water: hydrophilic and hydrophobic. 

Hydrophilic grouts are ideal for areas that are constantly wet, because they bond better to wet concrete.  They are water loving grouts which means they thrive in moist environments.  They perform very well when they are subjected to water 24 hours a day. 

However, if that water goes away, hydrophilic grouts are not ideal because they could shrink and crack when the area dries out.  Now you take that chance it will leak all over again on the next rain event.  We call this a wet/dry situation.  What does wet/dry situation mean?  This means that water can be present in a crack or void after a hard rain and then a few days later that water is no longer present in the crack and void.  The water table drops or the weather dries out and now you have a crack or void with no moisture present.  In situations like these, you want to use a hydrophobic grout.

This leads me to a call I received a few months back.  The owner of a storage building in Virginia was upset because he had hired a grouter to come to his storage facility and fix leaking cracks inside the storage bins. While the leaks remained sealed initially, they eventually started leaking again after a few rainy day/sunny day cycles.  They were very worried that water was going to leak and damage the items that customers had in the storage units.  It turned out the contractor had used a hydrophilic grout in this wet/dry situation, which was not the best choice for the reasons explained above.

The solution was simple.  The owner went with my grouter, who used a hydrophobic grout to permanently seal the leaks.  Knowledge is power, folks!

Want more information on sealing leaks with chemical grouts?

Most of you are probably familiar with our most popular product offerings: polyurethanes for sealing leaks, lifting slabs, and stabilizing soil.  But it's important to be fully aware of all the tools at your disposal.  We also offer water stop, crack repair, and soil stabilizing acrylate products.  Let's take a closer look:

Water Stop

The Spetec Injection Tube System kit is used in conjunction with our leak seal resins 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.

SST500 strips are simply fastened onto an existing joint.  When in contact with water in a confined space, SST500 will swell and stop water infiltration.

Crack Repair

Epicol T is a putty with a simple mixing ratio suitable for filling and moulding.  It can be applied underwater and it sticks to wood, stone, concrete and metal.

Epicol INJ is a low-viscosity epoxy resin for structural bonding of cracks and micro cracks in dry or wet concrete.  It can also be used as glue for bonding and anchoring.

Acrylates for Soil Stabilization

These are three-component, water-swelling hydrogels based on acrylate that harden to an elastic form.  They are especially noted for their low blending viscosity that is almost equivalent to the viscosity of water.

AG100 has a 20 cps mixed viscosity.  It can be used for curtain grouting and ground stabilization.

AG200 has a 40 cps mixed viscosity.  It can be used for ground stabilizion, preventing erosion around floors, walls, etc.  In adddition it can be used for curtain grouting and crack injection.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec Products?

Part of my job is keeping an eye out for Alchemy-Spetec mentions on the web. The other day I found this article on the global soil conditioners market, featuring our company alongside industry leaders such as BASF, Dow Chemical and Eastman Chemical.  The article was published on TechSciResearch.com. Here's an excerpt...

Global Soil Conditioners market, which stood at around USD4.90 billion in 2016 is projected to witness healthy growth at a CAGR of 8.16% to reach USD7.83 billion through 2026. The growth in the global soil conditioners market can be attributed to the broad array of applications in the agriculture as well as industrial sectors. 

Global Soil Conditioners market is controlled by these major players, namely– BASF SE (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (US), Akzo Nobel N.V. (Netherlands), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), Croda International Plc (UK), Clariant International AG (Switzerland), Lambent Corp. (US), Adeka Corporation (Japan), Eastman Chemical Company (US), Syngenta AG (Switzerland), Novozymes A/S (Denmark), Vantage Specialty Chemicals, Inc. (US), Alchemy-Spetec (US) and Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd. (Israel) among others.  Read more...

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec soil stabilization products?

Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as “PPE”, is essential for minimizing hazards on the job.  Neglect can result in very serious injuries and possible death.  These injuries or illnesses can result from electrical, chemical, mechanical and many other hazards.

Personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, shields, protective shoes, hard hats, ear plugs and respirators are just some of the protective gear that is worn every day.  It is so important to know what to wear and when to wear it.  It's also very important to know is how to properly put on the safety equipment.  By law, workers must use protective equipment in the work place when it is required.

This brings me to a story about a on a project I was on many years ago.  I was training a new contractor's crew on sealing manhole leaks with polyurethane chemical grout.  When training work crews, I always put a heavy emphasis on safety.  Since we were working with polyurethane, I also made clear how important it is wear safety glasses or shields to cover your face.

A little later, when I was showing them how to mix the chemical grout, I absent-mindedly left my safety glasses on top of my head instead of pulled down over my eyes.  As I was pouring the chemical grout out of the 5 gallon pail and into a bucket - a tiny drop hit me in my left eye.  I was blind in that eye for two days.  I even thought I might end up losing sight in that eye. 

Fortunately I was fine a few days later.  But it was a very close call.  One I don't ever want to repeat.  This was all due to me forgetting to pull my safety glasses down over my face.  That is how quick it can happen!  So needless to say, it is important to follow safety procedures no matter what.  Accidents happen, but we want to follow every possible measure to prevent any tragic consequences.  

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

When it comes to soil stabilization and void filling, I get a lot of calls to help local contractors. Recently I was advising LJS Waterproofing on a structure that had issues with unstable floors. I instructed them to use the technique of probe grouting.

They inserted the grout pipes about 22 feet in the ground. Next, they began to pull the probes out of the ground while pumping about 2 gallons of AP Fill 700 every foot. This was done 5 times until they reached the 17 foot marker.

After the grouting was complete, the damaged floors were removed and replaced. This time around the floors should have a longer lifespan since they are supported by solid, stable soil.

Want more information on soil stabilization?

In this article, I'm providing in-depth technical tips for experienced polyurethane slab lifters. If you're new to slab lifting, you may want to start by browsing the Lift Slabs topic to find more basic articles on the subject. As always you can call us with any questions at 404-618-0438.

For the rest of you, let's take a look at some pressure imbalance troubleshooting tips. Making good foam is all about temperature and pressure.  Sometimes there are issues that cause a PMC Proportioner or a Graco Reactor to get off ratio on pressure.  Graco machines will throw an E24 code requiring you to go to the pump and pressure it back up again.  A PMC machine with pressure imbalance controls will also stop the machine and require a reset.  Sometimes this will happen once or twice when getting going in the morning and then the issue clears up.  Maybe the gun had a few particles in it that needed blasting out.  Other times, the pressure imbalance is persistent and you need to figure out what to do.

Consider what information you have.  When you do a test shot is the material dark in color or very clear in color.  With AP Lift products, the B side is always nearly clear and the A side is dark brown like coffee or tea.  If it is coming out clear, or very light, there is a restriction on the A side somewhere.  Inside the rig you should also see that the A side pressure gauge is reading well above the set pressure and the B side gauge will probably be reading very little pressure if any.  This means A is blocked and not getting into the mix.  The restriction is most commonly in the gun on the A side injector or A side check valve.  This will be your most common pressure imbalance situation; A side restriction due to the nature of the ISO chemical.  If the opposite situation occurs (A side flowing freely while B side is restricted) follow the same steps to check for restrictions inside the gun.  As always, wear safety glasses and gloves when checking and working around this equipment. Use proper depressurization steps of the system before performing gun cleaning or maintenance.

The gun restriction on the A side is most common for slab lifters.  If it’s not the gun, what else can be going on that may cause pressure imbalances.  I am not a master Graco or PMC technician so I always check the easiest stuff first.  

Here are a few quick items to check:

1. Is the air compressor running? Sometimes an electric air compressor will shut off and you can’t hear it over the noise of the generator.  Possibly a low oil indicator because the rig is on a slope or, it’s low on oil.
2. Are the temperature settings at the machine correct? AP Lift foams have correct temp settings on the top of the B side drum.  For AP Lift 430 – it is A side 100F, B side 110F, and Hose Heat 105F
3. Is the material in the drums too cold? We recommend keeping the A side and B side above 60F.  B side is much thicker than A side and if the material is too cold in the drums, the drum transfer pumps can’t effectively push the thicker material over to the reactor / proportioner.
4. Are all the air lines connected to the transfer pumps?
5. Are all the fluid valves open?
6. If the gun was disassembled and put back together, were the check valves installed in the correct direction?
7. Are the foot valves at the base of the transfer pumps sealing properly. If there is trash keeping the bottom check ball from sealing, it can cause a loss of pressure
8. How about the hose heat and primary heaters? Are they still on?  PMC machines have a breaker on the hose heat transformer.  It trips every once in a while and you will lose hose heat and not know it until you start having imbalance issues.  Graco machines that throw an E24 code require the heaters to be turned back on by pushing the panel buttons.  If you forget then you will have pressure imbalance issues at the gun because the material thicknesses / viscosities will never be equalized.
9. Check the wye strainers at the proportioner / reactor. This needs to be part of your weekly / monthly PM.  If you have imbalance issues and other steps do not reveal the issue, disconnect the air lines to the drum pumps, shut the fluid valves off, and remove the plug from beneath the wye strainer.  Have a small pail beneath to catch material; it will not be that much.  When you remove the plug a cylindrical screen will slide out.  If it is clogged with particals this could be the problem.  Clean with a small brush and solvent.
10. This sounds obvious but make sure the valves on the proportioner / reactor are in the same direction. If one is in recirc mode and the other is in spray mode you will surely have an imbalance issue.
11. Are the ¾” bungs on the drums (A and B) venting properly either by being open or via a desiccant cartridge.

If none of this resolves the issue it may be time to call technical support.  They are going to ask you if you have already checked the above listed steps so you might as well save time and check the items first.  Usually you will find the issue. 

A technician will ask you some more questions and perhaps ask you to send a short video clip of the machine gauges as it is pressuring up and as it is trying to spray.  This information is vital to figuring out the problem.  Maybe there is a restriction or blockage mid way through the hose.  Maybe the temperature sensing unit towards the end of the hose is not reading correctly and needs to be checked.  Worse case, maybe there is a restriction or small particles causing the main pump line assembly to lose pressure.

Give one of us here at Alchemy a call and we will try and walk you through some steps.  If we cannot figure it out, we can direct you to our technical experts with PMC and Graco that we work with weekly.

 Want more information on slab lifitng?