The evolution of fluid-applied membranes

by brittney_cutler_2 | November 27, 2021 9:00 am

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By Isaac Sorensen, CSI, Russ Snow, CSP, CTR, BSS, LEED AP, Scott Wolff, CSI, CDT, BEC, Conleigh Bauer, CSI, Stacey Bogdanow, CTR, Taylor Wodzinski, Patrick Raney, CSI, ICRI, and Roger Smith, CSI, ICRI

After centuries of use, fluid-applied waterproofing continues to evolve as the primary method of structural waterproofing. Historically, humans have used variations of liquid membranes to waterproof their structures since hunters and gatherers used large leaves and tree sap to protect their excess grain from moisture. In the Neolithic era, boats were sealed with bitumen emulsion from peat bogs to prevent water from deteriorating the wood. Ancient Egyptians perfected bitumen emulsion to seal and protect walls from the Nile River. With all the technological advancements over the years, it is remarkable these base chemistries are still used.

Fluid-applied waterproofing materials offer certain advantages over self-adhered sheet membranes, primarily in ease of installation, simplified detailing, and cost efficiency. Many challenges associated with sheet membrane waterproofing systems, such as ‘fish mouths,’ uneven seams, difficult end lapping, and complexity of installing a straight flat sheet on a polygonal structure, are eliminated in a fluid-applied system. With liquid membranes, minor substrate imperfections, small gaps, and irregularities are easily addressed. The seamless, monolithic quality of a liquid membrane reduces the concern of failures at joints, laps, seams, and changes in plane. The elastomeric properties of a fully adhered, fluid-applied system will accommodate minor settling and structural movements due to temperature and humidity changes.

Whether sprayed, rolled, or troweled on, liquid membranes reduce waterproofing installation costs by eliminating time and labour associated with substrate priming, taping, and rolling seams, and measuring and cutting large, prefabricated sheets. While many variables, such as the skill of the installer and the specific site conditions, influence the final installation cost, some estimators report a labour cost reduction of up to 60 per cent by using a fluid-applied membrane over a traditional sheet-applied membrane. When it comes to surface preparation, although a fluid-applied membrane is a little more forgiving with regards to surface profile, proper preparation is still critical for the long-term performance of the material. The installation schedule is similarly dependent on many variables, but a sheet-applied membrane system usually requires an estimated two to three times the installation time compared to a spray-applied waterproofing membrane system. The ability of cold fluid-applied membranes to be installed over ‘green’ concrete is another advantage for the ever-shortening construction schedule.

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Liquid-applied waterproofing materials

Liquid-applied waterproofing can be categorized into bituminous materials such as coal tar and polymeric materials.

Bituminous binders result from the petroleum refining process and are commonly known as ‘asphaltic’ or ‘asphalts.’ The earliest discovery of bitumen dates back thousands of years to Europe and Africa. Despite being inherently combustible, bitumen is a sticky, naturally occurring and adhering, semi-solid, and innately hydrophobic material, highly suited for use in waterproofing membranes. Among all the available technology for below-grade waterproofing, the use of bituminous membranes is still popular, and can be accomplished using a large array of accessory materials. It is imperative that designers complete adequate research regarding any materials that will come into contact with these membranes to ensure both chemical and adhesive compatibility.

First discovered in the mid-1660s, coal tar is a byproduct of coke and coal gas production. It was commonly used in roads, sidewalks, and the preservation of railroad ties by 1865. The combination of coal tar and organic saturated felts became one of the earliest roof membranes. Coal tar, however, was limited to low-slope roofs due to its low viscosity. Coal tar is also highly susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) degradation, often resulting in severe craze cracking in its cured form. For better UV stability, various resins, epoxies, and other materials were added as UV-resistant enhancers, including aluminum flakes. Despite the challenges, coal tar maintained a nearly 100-year popularity until the product was discovered to be carcinogenic. Volatile organic compound (VOC) restrictions banned its use for roofing applications and significantly reduced its use today.  This material is also combustible, which further restricts its use.

Polymerics require complex formulations to cure to a solid membrane material. Most polymer technologies are highly processed and consequently more expensive than asphalt or coal tar. Polymer technologies are also less hydrophobic and have inherently lower viscosity than asphalt or coal tar. However, the installation advantages to these technologies continue to encourage their use in the field. These polymer technologies include polyurethane, acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate [PMMA]), silicone, acrylic urethane hybridization (polyurethane methacrylate [PUMA]), and silicone urethane (SPUR). As these materials are not produced from crude oil, they are deemed to be a more sustainable building material when compared with bituminous membranes.

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Bituminous membranes

In the early 1900s, cold fluid-applied membranes were developed primarily for maintaining roadways and for dust mitigation. Cold-applied membranes include cutbacks, cold-process, and emulsions, which each refer to slight variations in the chemistry.

An asphalt cutback is simply heavy-grade asphalt thinned with lighter grade petroleum solvent to provide a higher viscosity and easier workability. Solvent-based cutbacks are rarely used today, and the term cutback has essentially vanished from product literature. These products are still available but can be limited by code requirements due to their flammability, odour, and higher VOC content. These limitations often outweigh the benefits of cooler weather application and styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) membrane compatibility.

An asphalt emulsion replaces most of the solvent found in an asphalt cutback with water. Both cutbacks and emulsions contain asphalt cement, a finely ground or milled asphalt mixed with an appropriate solvent. Emulsions suspend the asphalt in the material through chemical emulsifiers and surfactants, and naturally contain very low VOC content. Standard asphalt emulsions remain viable for light-duty waterproofing in areas of low hydrostatic head pressure, commonly referred to as ‘dampproofing.’ Polymer or rubber-modified asphaltic emulsions provide improved waterproofing protection against hydrostatic head pressure. These products find use primarily due to their significantly lower cost when compared to higher performing membranes. Applications requiring greater flexibility, improved performance, or faster setting times might be better served by alternate product types.

Modern bituminous asphalt is distilled from crude oil, oil sands, and well sources. It was first synthesized with other polymers into useable rubberized asphalt in the early 1950s. This early ‘polymer-modified’ asphalt contained styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and found immediate use in the production of rapidly growing roadway networks at that time. In the late 1960s, scientific development led to the invention of SBS-rubberized asphalt with markedly higher levels of durability. The SBS asphalt formulation ages better, provides elastomeric qualities and strength while significantly improving abrasion resistance compared to its SBR predecessor.

During the early 1960s, a tire manufacturer commercially marketed SBR and later SBS-rubberized asphalt. Approximately 10 years later, a sheet version of SBS asphalt was developed into modified asphalt roofing, or ‘mod-bit.’ This new chemistry includes all the benefits of hot fluid-applied SBS in a polyester or glass-reinforced, factory-controlled thickness sheet product.

Hot-applied SBS membranes are unrestricted by low temperature site conditions and set immediately as fully adhered, continuous membrane. In its nearly 60-year track record, hot-applied SBS membranes have one of the lowest installation costs for a waterproofing membrane. They provide robust protection for plaza decks, steam tunnels, vegetated roofing, and parking garage deck applications. Conversely, respirable emissions and unpleasant odours from the melted asphalt should be considered when working in or near densely populated areas. Additionally, the material is nearly 204 C (400 F) when installed. The high temperatures can be dangerous even to an experienced installer.

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Polymeric materials

In the latter half of the 20^th century, the industry expanded toward new material possibilities, including polyurethanes. Polyurethanes, however, represent a broad category. Specifying the correct polyurethane requires precise terminology and detailed information regarding the product’s physical property requirements. Subcategories include two-component, single-component, hybridized, unhybridized, modified, and unmodified. Advantages to polyurethane products in general include better elongation and flexibility. These products also adhere well to a wide variety of substrates. In restoration or maintenance applications, older surfaces may have unknown coatings or pre-existing adhesives. A polyurethane allows the contractor a greater chance of success despite any unknowns over other, more substrate-specific products. At a molecular level, urethanes form a spring-like structure, allowing for strength and flexibility. This molecular spring also recovers well, which creates high tensile strength, elongation, hardness, and flexibility even at extreme high and low temperatures.

Unfortunately, compatibility between polyurethanes and other waterproofing materials can be tricky. Polyurethanes are often modified with asphalt. The transfer of oils or plasticizers between adjacent asphaltic materials can negatively impact adhesion and create other compatibility challenges. Many injection grouting materials contain polyurethane technology. If builders use injection grouting to repair a failing waterproofing system, they must determine compatibility with the existing waterproofing system before installation. Likewise, they should always confirm compatibility with transitions, detailing membranes, and protection course prior to installation. Testing information is widely available for polyurethane waterproofing, but modified or partial terminology within the testing criteria can create confusion when comparing products. Due to the range of various chemistries within this larger group, it can be difficult to establish true ‘equals.’

Two-component polyurethane membranes were introduced in the early 1980s. These solvent-free products cure through a chemical or ‘crosslinking’ reaction. Two-components often have no added solvents, lower VOC levels than subsequent solvent-based, single-component products, less odour, and negligible flammability risk. While they provided a more consistent cure time than the air/moisture-cure single-components, the inconvenience of field mixing led to the development of single-component products later in the decade.

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Moisture-cure single-component polyurethanes were developed in the late 1980s to eliminate the onsite mixing required by two-component membranes. Reduced jobsite waste and improved moisture tolerance provide additional advantages over two-component polyurethane products. Single-component polyurethanes depend on ambient humidity to initiate the curing reaction, also known as ‘moisture-cure.’ The addition of solvent cutbacks assists in workability and extends the recoat time. However, moisture-cure technology presents challenges such as foaming, bubbles, and blisters if installed incorrectly or over the presence of substrate moisture. Solvent content shrinkage may also be observed. Shrinkage is directly related to solids content. The higher the solids content in the liquid membrane, the less shrinkage will occur.

Single-component polyurethanes are generally cost competitive with other waterproofing systems. The simplicity of installation, and versatility in both vertical and horizontal applications, make it an attractive option for most projects. Maintaining the proper thickness and applying multiple coats if necessary are critical to the success of these systems. Two lifts may be necessary on vertical surfaces to achieve a 1.5-mm (60-mil) thickness. For more robust horizontal waterproofing, many single-component polyurethane products can be applied at 3 mm (120 mils) with non-woven reinforcement sheets.

Another newer, single-component technology, silyl-terminated polyether (STPE) materials, combine the solvent-free advantages of a two-component polyurethane with the simplified installation of a one-component product. Other names for this chemistry include silyl-modified polyurethanes, polyether, silyl-terminated polymer, silicone-modified polyester (SMP), and MS polymer. They have no flammability risk or odour and are lower in VOCs. These products also contain significantly higher solids content, resulting little to no shrinkage as the product cures.

However, this technology is susceptible to the challenges of a moisture-cure. The membrane cures from the exposed edge inward, meaning the surface ‘skins over’ very quickly, while the interior remains a liquid for longer. When the concrete substrate is heated by the sun, water vapour from within the concrete will push its way through the still liquid portion of the membrane, creating bubbles and blisters on the waterproofing surface. Proper installation of these membranes requires application at the correct time of day and only over substrates that have low moisture content. Many manufacturers recommend the use of a primer in situations likely to produce blistering. This recommendation may be written into the specifications, if necessary.

One response to the bubbling challenges of moisture-cure membranes is the recent development of polyurethane water-cure technology. These products are only applicable for horizontal surfaces and must be water-saturated to cure. Moisture-cures set slower in comparison because the required moisture absorption from the air is gradual, curing from the edge-inward. The entire membrane cures simultaneously with water-cure technology. Water-cure membranes set extremely quickly, some in as little as two hours, before escaping water vapor have a chance to create blisters or bubbles in the membrane.

Acrylic resins

PMMAs are two-part acrylic resins offering quick cure times through use of a catalyst. First synthesized in the 1930s, PMMAs did not become a viable waterproofing product until the early 1970s. When compared to asphaltic polyurethane membranes, these resins exhibit tremendous hardness as noted in their Shore Hardness data. Due to their high-achieving abrasion and impact resistance, PMMA resins can be found in aircraft windshields, safety glasses, dental fillings, and even contact lenses. Additionally, their water and chemical resistance and tolerance to heat and cold make these membranes applicable to a wide range of construction applications. PMMAs provide the base to most traffic coatings, although polyurethanes can also be used for this purpose.

Around the turn of the millennium, a variant of PMMA was developed with the addition of polyurethane. PUMA couples the elastomeric properties of polyurethane with the durability of PMMA. The resulting PUMA membrane adds three to four times the elongation over a typical PMMA membrane. This is particularly important in northern climates where temperature extremes are greater than southern climates. Reinforcement material may be required at penetrations and transitions to ensure the material is applied at the specified thickness, but PUMA membranes are strong enough to forgo fleece reinforcement fabric common among PMMA membrane systems.

With the use of an epoxy primer, both resin versions feature the advantage of green concrete application approximately 72 hours after form removal. Substrate and ambient application temperatures are accommodated as low as -6 C (20 F). PUMA membranes require careful understanding of ambient conditions. Application must take place at not less than -15 C (5 F) above the dewpoint. Installers are advised to be trained and authorized by the manufacturer. These waterproofing systems are generally designed for horizontal applications such as split-slab, paver systems, planters, and vegetated roofs.

While these technologies are extremely effective, PMMA/PUMA systems can cost up to twice as much an SBS, hot-fluid-applied rubberized asphalt system. However, quick production times and the elimination of protection course, termination bars, and other accessories are also to be considered.

Conclusion

While fluid-applied waterproofing products have recently surged in popularity, fluid-applied materials have existed in various forms for centuries. Instead of new technologies replacing previous products, new fluid-applied technologies are added to an expanding portfolio of waterproofing chemistries. Almost all fluid-applied waterproofing technologies that were ever developed are still offered in some form today.

With numerous options available, specifiers have many factors to consider in their choice of method. Balancing durability, material cost, and difficulty of installation, as well as construction schedules and budgets can seem overwhelming. At the end of the day, the best waterproofing material is a well-installed one. No matter which product they select, a knowledgeable installer will have the greatest impact on the success or failure of the waterproofing system. Concise specifications to communicate product information and quality standards, along with comprehensive detailing to provide explicit installation guides to the installer, will set the groundwork for a quality installation of any fluid-applied waterproofing system.

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Isaac Sorensen, CSI, is architectural specialist, New York and Northeast Region, W.R. Meadows. He can be reached at isorensen@wrmeadows.com.

Russ Snow, CSP, CTR, BSS, LEED AP, is product group manager–building envelope, W.R. Meadows. He can be reached at rsnow@wrmeadows.com.

Scott Wolff, CSI, CDT, BEC, is architectural specialist, Upper Midwestern States, W.R. Meadows. He can be reached at swolff@wrmeadows.com.

Conleigh Bauer, CSI, was the architectural specialist, Texas, LA, OK, AR, W.R. Meadows.

Stacey Bogdanow, CTR, is responsible for outside sales, Toronto and Eastern Ontario, W.R. Meadows. She can be reached at sbogdanow@wrmeadows.com.

Taylor Wodzinski is the architectural specialist for Illinois, W.R. Meadows.
She can be reached at swodzinski@wrmeadows.com.

Patrick Raney, CSI, ICRI, is architectural specialist, Northern CA and Northern NV, W.R. Meadows. He can be reached at praney@wrmeadows.com.

Roger Smith, CSI, ICRI, is architectural specialist, Southern California, W.R. Meadows. He can be reached at rsmith@wrmeadows.com.

Source URL: https://www.constructioncanada.net/the-evolution-of-fluid-applied-membranes/

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