Notes

Concrete alone just isn't waterproof anyway, it really is porous. Water seepage through concrete may cause problems for the construction ultimately causing money losses, besides other inconveniences. Thus, waterproofing the concrete is crucial.

This is really a construction material composed of cement, water, aggregates, reinforcing materials, chemical and mineral admixtures. The aggregates include sand and gravel, even though the reinforcing material is mostly the metal bars. Glass and plastic fibers may also be used as reinforcements. Chemical admixtures add special characteristics for the plain concrete. Mineral admixtures are added to the concrete to improve its strength. These may also be used as a replacement to Portland cement within the concrete. Let us find much more about the water proofing systems and related concepts.

Waterproofing Systems

The two important systems during these are Integral Waterproofing System and the other that uses membranes. Hydrophilic system and hydrophobic system will be the subtypes of the Integral Waterproofing System. Among different hydrophilic waterproofing systems, crystalline technology is the most popular one. In my explanation , water seen in concrete is changed into insoluble crystals. Some hydrophilic waterproofing products start using a property called hydraulic swelling. Here, the waterproofing material swells because it absorbs water, eventually filling pore spaces seen in the concrete. In the hydrophobic system, externally applied products viz. coatings, membranes, etc, are utilized like a protection against water.

Membranes

Waterproofing membranes can be liquid or sheet membranes. The liquid membranes are sprayed for the concrete, forming a rubber-like coating about 60 mm thick around the concrete surface. Quick application and low pricing are its major advantages. The sheet membranes are ready from asphalt. These membranes are laminated to polythene films along with the sheets thus formed are then pasted to the concrete. The sheets are consistent thick. Excellent waterproofing can be presented to foundation walls, parking lots, tunnels, etc, using these sheet membranes. As the sheets have to be manually pasted, it improves the labor cost which is its main disadvantage.

Hydrophobic Concrete

Unlike the hydrophobic membranes, 'hydrophobic concrete' is completely a different and innovative concept. Instead of applying any external agent on the concrete for waterproofing, here the concrete itself is manufactured waterproof. The concrete is done hydrophobic by adding admixtures to it during the time of production. These admixtures stop capillary action occurring inside the concrete, thereby rendering it waterproof. This kind of concrete may be successfully used in Asia, Europe and Australia. It has also became a boon for construction teams, since it allows construction to continue even within the rains.

Crystalline Waterproofing

Let's find out how fraxel treatments could be used being an option to Integral Waterproofing System. First of all, the concrete which has being waterproofed is saturated with water and then a low density solution is applied, accompanied by the crystalline waterproofing material, which can be a high density solution. After this, caffeine diffusion process starts. The high density crystalline waterproofing solution seeps inside the concrete and travels for the low density solution until an equilibrium is attained. Since water is applied to the concrete, cement hydration occurs. This hydrated cement now reacts with the crystalline material to form crystals in the concrete. The diffusion process will take this crystalline waterproofing 12 inches in the wall. This waterproofing is especially efficient, because crystals which might be formed inside concrete remain protected against virtually any external damage. Resistance to 130 degree heat in the constant state is yet another benefit from this type of waterproofing. It also resists chemical reactions like carbonation - which reduces alkalinity and damages the concrete. It stops chloride ion diffusion inside the wall, protecting the steel within the concrete from oxidation and also expansion.

Details plus much more information in the links below:

Website: https://www.drysidewaterproofing.com.au/