Concrete is an amazing building material when it comes to stability and durability. It’s strong, versatile, inexpensive and available just about everywhere. Globally, it’s widely used to build everything from sidewalks to transportation tunnels. However, this durability depends on how well you protect it, especially against water. Water is the primary enemy of concrete during service life, even though it’s essential to concrete production, placement, and curing.
Few substances are absolutely waterproof. Everything is permeable to some degree and under the right conditions water molecules will pass through a lot of things that we might normally consider to be waterproof.
In the construction industry – watertight and waterproof mean the same thing. So when we say something is waterproof, we simply mean that liquid water will not pass through in any measurable amount under commonly found conditions. Waterproofing concrete from water is typically accomplished by applying a barrier or external membrane of some kind to the surface.
External membranes, often used for waterproofing low-risk structural projects, are designed to stop water but installation issues, punctures, and defects can lead to leaks. And, they also deteriorate over time requiring costly repairs and replacement.
An external membrane waterproofing system that is applied to the surface of concrete is typically on the outer foundation wall from where a leak is observed, therefore repairs can be extremely difficult. This is because surface applied systems are nearly always applied to the side of the structure that is buried below ground that can’t be easily accessed. For example, a below ground parking structure will have the membrane system on the outside of the perimeter wall. Any failure of the membrane will be impossible to repair because it is inaccessible. Worse still, attempts to repair leaks from the inside can be problematic because one can never be sure where the water is actually coming from. A leak observed on the inside of the parking garage will likely be coming through a crack, hole or joint. But that doesn’t mean that the membrane has failed directly on the other side of the wall at that point. Water can enter through an opening in the membrane then travel along a path of least resistance before finding a crack or other weak spot in the concrete to pass through. Common areas that allow water to pass are around corners, protrusions, pipes, laps, seams and edges that have not been perfectly sealed.
Once water has infiltrated it can flow freely compromising the structure. However, surface applied products when installed correctly, have proven to provide effective waterproofing performance under a wide range of conditions. Drawbacks are generally cost, time, workmanship, vulnerability to damage and difficulty to repair.
Methods to protect concrete from water without surface applied barriers have been evolving for several decades.
Water-repelling admixtures are sometimes referred to as “hydrophobic.” These products work by changing the surface tension so that water beads in contact with the concrete instead of absorbing in and through the pores. Many water-repelling admixtures incorporate some pore-blocking properties as well. Water-repelling products can be very effective at keeping water out of concrete both above and below ground. However, they don’t work at resisting water that is under hydrostatic pressure. Once water pressure exceeds the surface tension within the pores of the concrete, the water is able to push past and through the concrete.
Water under pressure will do amazing things. High hydrostatic pressure, a common condition found in below grade foundations, tunnels, water containment tanks and underground parking structures require an effective waterproofing system to be able to withstand water under pressure. The common solution is to attempt repairs by injecting one of many available injection products into the concrete. Unfortunately this often results in the water simply finding the next weakest spot to come through and the repair crew finds themselves chasing the leaks which can be a costly exercise. Ironically, the solution ends up being to use the concrete itself to block the water. So why not use the concrete itself as the waterproofing membrane?
Gaining popularity around the globe over the last three decades is the integral crystalline waterproofing system. Integral crystalline waterproofing admixtures are products that are added to the concrete during mixing and become part of the hardened concrete. They make the concrete waterproof by blocking the passage of water through its capillary pores, cracks and joints, by using the whole concrete mass as the waterproof membrane. And, it can replace the need for external waterproofing membranes.
Crystalline technology
When added or applied to concrete crystalline technology chemically reacts with water and un-hydrated cement particles to form insoluble needle-shaped crystals that fill capillary pores and micro-cracks in the concrete and block the pathways for water and waterborne contaminants. Any moisture introduced over the lifespan of the concrete will initiate crystallization, ensuring permanent waterproofing protection.
Also known as “smart concrete”, crystalline technology’s most unique feature is its ability to lie dormant indefinitely within the concrete. If a new crack should form in the concrete and water begins to penetrate, the chemicals will react to form new crystals at the leaking location and grow to shut off the flow of water. This feature is incredibly valuable because it means that the concrete has the ability to repair itself and thus is many times more reliable than surface applied systems over the long term. It is almost as if the structure is alive and can heal from a wound. However, it is important to note that the repair is not structural. The concrete does not regain its pre-cracked strength as a result of the crystal growth. Common use of the term “self-healing” is therefore a bit misleading. A better term for the process is “self-sealing” since this is what is actually happening.
Integral crystalline waterproofing products have proven effectiveness for structures withstanding hydrostatic pressure and in critical applications a crystalline waterproofing admixture will provide the performance necessary and its self-sealing ability will provide the most reliable long-term waterproofing solution available. A drawback is that integral crystalline waterproofing products are not tolerant of constant movement. Even though a crystalline waterproofing admixture can self-seal cracks as they form, the process is slow and constant movement will prevent a permanent seal from forming. For this reason, integral crystalline waterproofing products are best suited to rigid concrete structures such as below ground parking, foundations, tunnels and reservoirs. Then again, a well-designed structure with adequate reinforcement and proper jointing will allow a good integral crystalline waterproofing system to perform well in most cases.
Experienced designers and builders know that for most concrete waterproofing applications, surface applied membranes are no longer the best concrete waterproofing technology available. Even newer, more advanced membrane systems are just improvements on an obsolete technology. The 30 years young and much more effective way to build waterproof concrete structures is with integral crystalline waterproofing. Crystalline waterproofing makes the concrete itself into the membrane. It cannot be punctured or damaged and never wears out. Effective sealing of pores, cracks and joints requires a reactive product like crystalline waterproofing admixtures, which are now being considered and selected more and more often. And, for higher risk projects the use of crystalline waterproofing technology solution has added benefits to concrete’s durability and longevity.
Advancements in this technology have led to the availability of more comprehensive crystalline waterproofing products (i.e. systems containing solutions for joints, penetrations, control joints, etc.) making it a highly versatile and sophisticated method for waterproofing. It speeds up construction by reducing steps in the building process and shortening construction schedules; reduces the risk of labor and workmanship issues; provides greater design flexibility – build right to the property line; ensures a longer lifespan; and lower maintenance costs over the structure’s service life.
