They also increase tensile strength, resistance to acidic soils, resilience, self-healing and bondability.ĭespite such advancements, disadvantages persist. These sheets are self-adhering and eliminate the harmful toxins typically associated with asphalt adhesion. The polymer is integrated with the asphalt to create a more viscous and less temperature-sensitive elastic material compared to asphalt on its own. Cold-applied polymer-modified bitumen is a sheet membrane composed of polymer materials compounded with asphalt and attached to a polyethylene sheet. Polymer-modified bitumens have evolved from the original bituminous sheet systems, offering a safer, cold-applied alternative. Substantial steps have been taken by product manufacturers to replace these membranes. Since the early 1990s, the bitumen system’s popularity has fallen due to an increasing number of bans on its use by governmental and regulatory agencies. When heated, traditional bitumen - both coal tar pitch and asphalt - releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and potentially carcinogenic fumes. These sheets were made from alternating layers of bitumen and felt. Historically, hot-applied sheet systems - known as built-up bituminous membranes - were used for below-grade concrete waterproofing. Here’s a summary that can help make the choice more clear. It can be difficult to keep up with advancements in both membranes and crystalline admixtures - and there have been substantial advancements in both technologies. Integral systems block water passage from any direction by working from the inside out, making the concrete itself the water barrier.
Since the 1980s, many construction projects around the globe have used integral crystalline admixtures to waterproof concrete. Although the oldest and most widely used positive side technology is sheet membrane waterproofing, its failures and limitations are also common and costly.
To make concrete really waterproof - which means both preventing water passage and resisting hydrostatic pressure - you can waterproof from the positive (exterior) side, negative (interior) side or from within the concrete itself (integral systems). If you want to protect your concrete and ensure it has a long, serviceable life, waterproofing is essential.īut how? What’s the best method and the best material? Understanding The Pros & Cons of Crystalline Waterproofing Media » News April 5, 2011Ĭoncrete is porous and, if not waterproofed, absorbs water that can cause cracks, waterborne contaminants and chemicals that can cause deterioration.
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