Hydrotite waterstop exhibits exceptional integrity over time, even when exposed to significant hydrostatic pressure.
Excellent Durability
Hydrotite has been specifically designed and developed from synthetic rubber to provide excellent durability, improved resistance against long-term stress relaxation and microbial deterioration. The co-extruded profiles control the direction of expansion of Hydrotite across the joint, rather than along the path of least resistance, which ensures that higher contact surface pressures are achieved and improved water sealing results are maintained.
High Expansion Capacity
The high expansion capacity of Hydrotite provides an initial compression seal with reserve expansion capacity to accommodate future joint movement. The hydrophilic polymers are the best commercially available product. They swell up to 8x upon contact with water. Other hydrophilic waterstops provide lower volumetric expansion and do not accommodate future structural movement.
Hydrotite’s unique triple-action,
makes it superior to conventional water sealing materials:
1
Initial compressed seal
The rubber elasticity and hollow core design provide an initial compressed seal between adjacent surfaces during construction.
2
Hydrophilic reaction
The hydrophilic reaction produces secondary expansion following contact with water thereby ensuring a water-tight seal is maintained.
3
Residual expansion
In the event of future structural movement, Hydrotite provides residual expansion to ensure a high contact surface pressure and water tight seal is maintained. Read more
Hydrotite vs. Other Waterstops
Whereas conventional PVC waterstops are relatively inexpensive to purchase, they are labour intensive to install and frequently fail to adequately waterproof poured construction joints. Due to folding and improper splicing, PVC waterstops are not as tolerant of typical concrete construction practices and cannot accommodate for concrete shrinkage without leaking. A large portion of MULTIURETHANES’ business involves the subsequent repair by injection of failed PVC waterstops.
Hydrotite waterstops, by comparison, are “active” materials and have the capacity to expand by absorbing water into their hydrophilic matrix. This expansion capability compensates for movement and shrinkage, which typically occur in concrete structures and allow Hydrotite to maintain a water-tight joint. In addition, Hydrotite can simply and quickly be installed.
Bentonite-based hydrophilic waterstops have a practical capacity for expansion of only 1-to-2 times the original volume. Without restraint, bentonite materials continue to swell in an uncontrolled manner and lose their physical properties after prolonged submersion under saturated conditions. Bentonite-based waterstops frequently fail when subjected to hydrostatic water head and become extruded from the construction joints, thus allowing subsequent water infiltration. Most available bentonite waterstops do not have a delay coating which results in premature swelling in green concrete.
Other hydrophilic materials are manufactured from natural rubber, which provides inferior long-term durability. Natural rubber products are prone to stress relaxation and microbial attack over time. Natural rubber materials provide low rates of expansion, which may not maintain long-term sealing integrity after joint movement.
Hydrotite is manufactured from synthetic rubber to provide excellent durability over time and exhibits improved resistance against long-term stress relaxation and microbial deterioration.
