Alchatek Blog

As I wrote in a previous blog post The Benefits of Buying Through Distribution:

1. A distributor can serve as a one-stop shop.
 
2. Local distributors serve as experts in their area. (They often have the scoop on new projects, change orders, supplemental materials, and emergency repair needs.)
 
3. Having a distributor on hand is extremely convenient. Nothing is worse than having to call the factory again to have more product shipped after a mis-calculated estimate.
 
4. Many distributors actively work to get products specified for local jobs. That in itself can be a huge benefit. The distributor in a sense can sometimes be an extended part of your sales force.

With those benefits in mind, we publish a semi-regular Distributor Profile Series to provide more information on Alchemy-Spetec's distribution network.

In this article, we feature Indcon Inc.

They are an industrial maintenance solution provider, supplying repair materials to the industrial maintenance and construction industries.

Established in 1998, Indcon was formed in Lexington, South Carolina by Tony and Jean Atkins as a small family-run operation. The company grew quickly through their combined efforts and soon outpaced their limited capabilities. As business opportunities grew, so did Indcon, spreading its footprint first across the Southeast and later into the rest of the country. Indcon quickly outgrew its original office and eventually established a warehouse operation in Columbia and moved the company headquarters to Greenville, South Carolina.

Today, Indcon’s reach is nationwide. With sales professionals and locations placed strategically throughout the country, they are able to assist customers throughout the country to quickly get exactly the expertise, products, and services they need to reach optimum performance.

Indcon offers next day delivery to most locations on the East Coast!

A few Alchemy-Spetec items you'll find at Indcon Inc:

I recently consulted with LJS Waterproofing on a job involving leaking concrete slabs. This job involved a control joint (a planned crack which allows for movement caused by temperature changes and drying shrinkage). The joint seal that had begun to leak rain water into a conference room below.

To fix this problem, I suggested the use of Spetec F400. This polyurethane resin was chosen due to its high flexibility. When dealing with structures that move, such as parking decks, you do not want to use a resin that is rigid in any way. It will lead to cracking in the near future, which can result in job failure.

Armed with Spetec F400, LJS Waterproofing contractors began drilling into the control joint and pumping resin. After filling in the cracks, the leaks were completely repaired - with no water leaking into the room below. This job was completed within one work day.

Want more information on leak seal with Alchemy-Spetec resins?

As I stated in a previous blog post, Polyurethane Leak Seal in Cold Weather, twin streaming can be an effective way to ensure that water reactive resin sets up quickly and thoroughly after injection. In that post I only mentioned twin streaming briefly. Here are some more details:

What is Twin Streaming?

Twin streaming is a technique in which you use a high pressure F-valve to inject resin AND water at the same time. As you can see in the photo, the F-valve has two supply connections - one for water and one for resin. The water and resin come into contact right before they exit the nozzle.

Advantages:

1. Ensures there is enough water for the resin to react with.
2. Starts the reaction immediately.
3. Allows you to inject in cold water.

When Filling Voids Above the Water Table

When working on jobs that require void filling behind walls, also known as curtain grouting, it is imperative that you are prepared for any obstacles that may occur. If the voids are large and dry, resin may not have enough water to react with when injected in the conventional manner. In this case injecting water behind the wall prior to injection might not be sufficient (especially if the void is open or filled with gravel, giving the water an easy path to escape). With twin streaming you are guaranteed there is enough water for the resin to fully react and fill the voids.

While Injecting Under Cold Water

Twin streaming also works well if you find yourself having to inject into a cold, underwater environment. You can inject warm water along with the resin to jump start the reaction process before the cold water gets a chance to slow down the process.

The ratio of water to resin can be controlled by opening the valves at different angles. Some products such as AP Fill 700 and Spetec H100 only need a little water to react with (10:1 resin to water is plenty). In this case, you would crack the water valve slightly, then open the resin valve all the way. Other products such as AP Seal 500 and Spetec GT350 need more water. A 2:1 or 1:1 ratio of resin to water both work well. In this case, you may want to open both valves all the way.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products & equipment?

Infiltration of ground water into storm and waste water systems is a huge issue for many municipalities. This earlier blog article on the subject is an excellent resource.

As Andy Powell states in his post:

Aging sewer and storm water systems across the country are plagued by infiltration and inflow; especially in areas with high water tables and sandy soils. Over time, compacted soils around catch basins, manholes, and culverts relax and result in deflection of joints and pipe connections. The end result is infiltration of ground water into the storm and waste water systems. This infiltration erodes the soils surrounding below grade drainage structures resulting in sinkholes, settling roadways, and property damage; not to mention the extra cost of treating that uninvited ground water.

But luckily there is a solution:

The solution is a combination of sealing leaking joints both from within the drainage structures and through point grouting from street level. Expansive polyurethanes such as Spetec F400, Spetec F1000, AP Seal 500, Spetec H100 and AP Fill 700 produced by Alchemy-Spetec can be injected directly into pipe and manhole connections where they react with infiltrating water and expand to seal off leaking joints. Additional point grouting from street level fills voids and permeates loose soils. This relieves hydrostatic pressure from the structures and strengthens the ground to support the above roadways and sidewalks.

Want more information on infrastructure leak seal & void fill?

I recently had the opportunity to train a crew on a very interesting job inside an underwater utility tunnel beneath a lock and dam in the St. Lawrence Seaway. This seaway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. This tunnel is underneath a giant concrete deck, so the walls have taken a lot of pressure over time. The soil also shifts and settles underneath the tunnel as the years go by. Those factors, in addition to freeze/thaw cycles have caused cracks to appear in the walls.

One particularly large crack was 20 feet long and up to 2 inches wide in some places. The water leaking through created an especially dangerous situation considering the 480 volt electrical box you can see in the photo above. There is also plenty of valuable equipment in the tunnel that is susceptible to water damage.

I suggested to the customer that they buy about four 5 gallon pails of Spetec F400. I recommended this material because it works very well in wet joints and cracks. It also remains somewhat flexible after installation, so if the walls settle or shift a little more, the cured grout will not break. When I showed up we got to work immediately with our on-the-job training, using modified airless sprayers to pump the material.  Overall, it took about 2.5 hours for the crew to get the job done while learning the leak seal process at the same time.

Want more info on sealing leaks with chemical grouts?

Curtain wall grouting is a leak seal method that is often required when cracks cannot be identified, when walls are made of material that does not respond well to crack injection (such as masonry, stone and CMU), and when previous leak seal methods have failed.  

Curtain wall grouting is the process of injecting water reactive resin behind the leaking wall in a widespread grid pattern. The water on the other side mixes with the grout and cures to a solid mass covering the surface of the wall on the other side. In addition, you don’t have water pressure dislodging external “patches” over time, as can be the case with other methods. This procedure is best done with either AP Fill 700, Spetec H100 or one of the Spetec AG100 - 300 series of acrylate grouts.

These expansive one-component polyurethane resins can be injected through the wall to cut off large flow and high pressure water leaks. The resins react with the water on the other side to form a long lasting, durable seal. AP Fill 700 has a high rate of expansion and a little flexibility. Spetec H100 has a lower rate of expansion but a bit more flexibility. The Spetec AG 100 - 300 series has a very low rate of expansion (only a slight swelling) but a lot of flexibility. 

Want more info on curtain wall grouting?

When it comes to floor and wall joint leak repairs, there are usually two scenarios to consider. These repair jobs usually come about because of leakage where the floor and wall typically meet. Each scenario determines where drill points should be placed for repair procedures using polyurethane.

Scenario 1:

In this scenario the floor has been poured first before a wall is made to confine a space. To fix leaks that occur in this type of joint, a hole is drilled at the bottom of the wall. This is usually about 6-8 inches above the floor and at a 45 degree angle. Once drilled, soaked oakum is then placed in the hole. Once cured, the oakum serves as a gasket and initial leak seal. Polyurethane grout is then pumped into the hole for a deeper seal, while the oakum gasket prevents it from spilling back out.

Scenario 2:

In this scenario the wall has been poured first before the floor. The hole is drilled on the floor about 6-8 inches from the wall and at a 45 degree angle. Soaked oakum is placed into the hole to create an initial seal and gasket. Polyurethane grout then injected behind it for a thorough leak seal solution.

Materials often used for these applications:

AP Oakum: for creating gaskets

AP Fill 700: for drilled holes that are about 2 inches wide

Spetec F400: for drilled holes that are between ½ and 1 inch wide

AP Seal 500: for tight joints with multiple hairline cracks

Spetec F1000: works well if curtain grouting is needed to drill through brick walls

Want more information on sealing leaks?

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.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Continuing with this week's essential blog post roundup, let's review the best of recent leak seal articles. First we have a profile of a tunnel patching job with Spetec GT350. Next we have an overview of common residential leak seal opportunities. Finally, we'll leave you with a post on sealing pipe penetrations. Hopefully these three posts will get you thinking about leak seal job possibilities for your business.

Northgate Link Extension with GT350

By Thad Brown

In Seattle, Washington there has been construction taking place in the region’s most congested traffic area. The Northgate Link tunnel is being extended to connect the Northgate, Roosevelt and U District neighborhood transit stations to downtown Seattle and the airport. One of our contractor customers has been an ongoing asset to this project as they have been patching the tunnel walls while during the construction process.

Click here to read more...

Waterproofing Residential Spaces

By Anthony Sandone

The residential waterproofing market is huge and can be quite the cash cow for contractors who enjoy tending to a constant stream of smaller jobs. Let's review common residential waterproofing issues and the Alchemy-Spetec products you can use to address them.

Click here to read more...

Sealing Pipe Penetrations

By Thad Brown

Over the years, I have been asked countless times for the best way to seal pipe penetrations and other irregular annular spaces. Pipe penetration scenarios often have to do with water supply lines, electrical conduits and gas lines just to name a few. The main concern is creating a durable watertight seal between the outside of the pipe and the structure the pipe is penetrating through.

Click here to read more...

Want more information on leak seal products?

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.

Want information on additional leak seal products?