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Armofix filling and sealing of cracks & joints, with strong adhesion (if the links below refer to Greek pages, contact us for further information) |
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| 1. Identification of the product | |
| Category WINWET: | 4. Coating sealants with strong adhesion |
| Product description: | Waterproof viscous highly elastic modified self-polymerizing acrylic coating and penetrating resin for the filling and sealing of cracks, any kind of joints and other cavities that require filling and sealing |
| Safety data: | It contains no carcinogenic solvents, is water based. For more details, please read the Safety Data Sheet of the product. |
| Materials on which it is applied: | On concrete, plaster, painted surfaces, metal, wood, asphalt membrane and on almost all the materials for the filling and sealing of horizontal, inclined and vertical cracks and joints, fractures and other cavities of any kind. For cracks on vertical surfaces of plaster, concrete or other materials Armofix might not be appropriate, because it cannot stand and will fall due to its liquidity because of gravity. In this case is needed mixing with a small amount of cement (about 20%) to cure or it will be even better to be used repair cement containing Betoplex. Armofix is applied either directly on the surface or after a coating of a Betostal, which functions as a primer, so that Armofix will not be absorbed in a high grade within the pores of the surface and will not shrink and crack as it dries. (please see below “Application of the Product”) |
| 2. Data on the operation of the product | |
| Which problems are solved by the product and in which ways: | A very common problem is the moisture penetration through joints or cracks that due to contractions and expansions are of variable thickness. The problem becomes even more intense when the joints or cracks are formed by the meeting of two different materials, which typically do not have the same coefficient of thermal expansion, so the pressures exerted on the various sealing materials that are usually applied are tremendous and fatally destroy them. Another factor that intensifies the problem further is the different direction to which each surface is expanding or contracting: in case that a vertical surface meets a horizontal the problem of sealing the joint was until a few years ago unsolvable. Some examples of difficult joints sealing cases are following:
The acrylic resin Armofix is an innovative product designed specifically to relieve the workman from the painful work of fine caulking with the spatula for the sealing of small or large cracks as well as joints of any kind. You do not need a spatula as it is applied by brush while its smoothing is very easy. The filling of cracks is permanent and unchanging in contractions and expansions due to the high elasticity of the coating film that the resin is forming, and the adhesion of the film on the surfaces is so perfect that it is impossible to detach it mechanically. |
| Operating principle and way of action: | Thanks to its special composition the resin adheres and is glued perfectly on the materials where it is applied. When it comes into contact with the air, it begins to self-polymerizing. During its polymerization it is solidified while acquires absolute waterproofness and high elasticity, which is not lost with aging, even though exposed to sweltering heat. Thus, it is following comfortable the contractions and the expansions of the materials on which it is hooked without unstucking from them and without loosing its waterproofness. With these perfect properties it constitutes the only worldwide ultimate solution to the problem of filling and sealing of joints, cracks and any form of cavities. |
| Benefits: |
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| Advantages over other methods: | 1. Compared to all other materials that are normally used for the filling and sealing of cracks, joints and other cavities Armofix has the following technical advantages: – It doesn’t need reapply every few years. – Walkable result. – It doesn’t get damaged by the sun. – It doesn’t peel, dry, rub or crack. – It isn’t inflatable by water. – It resists to any mechanical damages. 2. Apart from the above technical advantages Armofix surpasses also in the issue of time and ease of application, as it is applied very easily and quickly even by an unskilled person and its cost is quite low. 3. Compared with the resin by which are manufactured the industrial floors Armofix has very different properties: it has much less hardness and much greater elasticity, so it is used for the filling and sealing of expandable and shrinkable joints, while those are used to manufacture floors where a small elasticity is enough, but on the contrary hardness is necessary for resistance to heavy use to which is subjected an industrial floor. |
| Comparison with other materials of WINWET family: | 1. Smaltofix resembles more paint and creates no overlap with high thickness nor is able to fill cavities like Armofix, which looks more like yogurt or putty and not paint. Smaltofix is more economical, and as it is cheaper and as a smaller amount is needed to cover a surface, therefore it is preferred in cases of large surfaces. Also, Smaltofix achieves partial hydrophobicity and oleophobicity and is more resistant to negative pressures. Smaltofix is diluted in White Spirit, while Armofix is water based. 2. Compared to repair cement containing Betoplex it is much more elastic, therefore it is preferred in cases where the expansions and contractions are large (e.g. joints and cracks), while in case of repairs to plaster or concrete pieces missing is preferred Betoplex (or Sovaplex, when is required an especially good adhesiveness). 3. Superior and more secure solution for filling of large openings is Polibond Elastico mixed with cement and little or no water. It creates a very elastic and waterproof mass, which is filling cracks, even large gaps from landslide, without risk of separation. Over this filling, it may be applied optionally Armofix, as final protection. |
| Experiment control of the efficacy of the product: | Text under construction. |
| Application fields: | This space will be filled shortly with links that will lead into a separate document for each different product application field. |
| 3. Application of the product | |
| Necessary equipment for the application: | For the application of the resin you should have at your disposal:what is indicated in the Winwet Application Equipment List those indicated in the text concerning the specific application field of the product |
| Surface preparation prior to application: | 1. The surface must be dry and well swept, so that the pores are open 2. If there have been made previous attempts for filling and sealing with other materials that have been dried and destroyed, they should be removed, at least in the areas where they are friable or inflated and can easily be rubbed off or peeled. 3. Before the application of Armofix may optionally be preceded a coating of the surface and filling of the joint or the crack with the penetrating Betostal SLN (or Betostal F18, if it is a vertical surface, which functions as a first sealing phase and also as a primer for the even better adhesion of Armofix within the micro formations on the internal surfaces of a joint or a crack. Moreover, in this way we achieve Armofix not to be absorbed very deeply into the pores of the surface and hence not to shrink and crack as it dries. (Then, after Armofix dries, we apply onto the whole surface 2 or 3 coatings with Betostal to waterproof it.) 4. In case of mixing Armofix with cement for greater mechanical resistance, the surfaces that will be coated should firstly be wetted with water. |
| Protection of other surfaces: | Because when it is dried on marble, tiles, metals, etc. surfaces, it is hardly cleaned protect such surfaces with nylon or newspapers. If it will drip, wipe the surface thoroughly immediately with a damp cloth or paper before starting polymerization of the resin. |
| Dilution: | Although it is soluble in water, it must not be diluted to avoid reducing of its elasticity and waterproofness. |
| Number of coatings: | One coating with a brush is sufficient. |
| Application method: | By a brush or a spray gun promoting pastry cream or in such other manner that someone will invent to fill well the cavity to be covered (crack, joint etc.) and create a coating layer that will be extended beyond both ends of the cavity. Within 2-3 days after the application the product has reached its maximum shrinkage due to drying, so it is required a second coating to fill any gaps created. The application with a roller is not appropriate, because it does not ensure penetration of the resin into the crack or the joint or the cavity. In case that the joints is created between two different materials with different expansion coefficient, the forces that will be exerted on Armofix will be huge, so you will have to reinforce it with 20% cement. (Caution: In this case, the surfaces to be coated must first be wetted with water to be moistened the cement and with the help of the resin to obtain excellent adhesion and permanent adhesiveness on surfaces.) The mixing with cement is appropriate also in any other case where the coating film for any reason must not be too soft or too elastic or in cases where it must be harder and more resistant to shocks or frictions. Superior and more secure solution for filling of large openings is Polibond Elastico, as already mentioned in the section “Comparison with other materials of WINWET family”. |
| Required time for the application: | The application of the resin is very simple and fast. In a few minutes are covered many meters of cracks or joints or other cavities. |
| Weather conditions during the application: | On cloudy or sunny weather, cold or heat the end result will be exactly the same. The sun and the heat just accelerate the polymerization and waterproofing. If there is a forecast for rain by the National Meteorological Service, the application should be deferred. |
| Lower polymerization temperature: | 3οC. If the temperature falls below 3οC before the polymerization is complete, the water begins to freeze and the same happens to the special penetrators containing the resin, thus losing its coherence and waterproofness. Therefore, you should avoid the application of the resin when it is very cold. When the resin is polymerized completely, the frost does not cause any damage to the resin. |
| Drying time: | Within a few hours the resin is dried. |
| Completion time of polymerization: | 4 days or less. During the hot and dry days of summer the polymerization lasts 24 hours. |
| If the resin becomes wet before the completion of its polymerization: | There is no problem. With another coating the damage is completely restored. |
| Paintability after the application: | The polymerized resin is easily painted in the color of the surface on which it is applied or in any other shade. |
| Paintability with paints admixture: | Yes, the resin can be mixed with paint before its application. |
| Instructions for use: | Click here to see in PDF format the label with the instructions for use which is affixed on the product. |
| 4. Resistance of the applied product | |
| Resistance to expansions and contractions, vibrations and earthquakes: | Excellent. |
| Resistance to shocks and frictions: | Excellent. |
| Behavior in acid and alkaline environment: | The polymerized resin is not attacked by the alkaline environment which create for example the aggregates nor by the acid environment caused by weather conditions, plant roots etc. |
| Resistance to temperature changes: | Thanks to its elasticity the polymerized resin withstands sudden temperature changes. |
| Resistance to extreme temperatures: | Excellent, even at high heat and freezing cold conditions as those that occur only in certain areas of Northern Greece as far as Greece is concerned. |
| Resistance to solar ultraviolet radiation: | Very good. |
| Resistance to constant contact with water or moist soil or other form of moisture: | Unlimited. |
| Tolerance to positive pressure: | Practically unlimited. |
| Tolerance to negative pressure: | Very high. Thanks to its very good adhesion and welding on the surface it is applied, it ensures strong grip, so it is recommended to seal cracks on exterior surfaces of tanks and other surfaces where water exerts negative pressure. |
| Lifetime: | Unlimited. The polymerized resin does not lose its properties over time, because it does not age (is not dried nor decomposed) and has high elasticity (does not lose its shape nor is torn with expansions and contractions) and secondly because in the pores it is completely protected from the sun, the weather conditions and mechanical damages. |
| Periodical preventive reapply: | Reapply is not considered necessary for purpose of prevention every few years, and it is also not possible, since after the application of the resin there is no longer any cavity to be covered, nor would make any sense to coat with a new layer of resin over the lower one after a few years. |
| 5. Natural properties of the product | |
| Product form before its application: | Milky viscous liquid (reminiscent of yogurt). |
| Product form after its application and polymerization: | The polymerized resin has the exterior appearance and the texture of concrete with a very good finish, like industrial floor, and the elasticity of leather and even higher. Its color is almost white. |
| Elasticity: | Very high. |
| Adhesiveness: | Excellent. When it is used with a little cement, it becomes even more adhesive, acquires the behavior of a viscous adhesive which while drying is polymerized and is completely solidified. |
| Adhesion – penetration: | Low penetration, excellent adhesion. |
| Coverage: | Absolute, and relative to the color and to the texture. Small resecces and protrusions of the surface are completely covered by the single smooth surface of Armofix. |
| Air permeability and vapor permeability: | Yes, the polymerized resin allows the transpiration, because it has such a molecular structure that does not allow the passage of water but allows the passage of air and water vapor between its molecules. This ensures the following key benefits, which of course apply only to situations of coverage of large surfaces with Armofix: 1. The building is well ventilated and living in it is healthy and pleasant, because there is no smell (“musty”) or oxygen deficiency causing headaches, sleepiness, decreased performance, etc. 2. The tendency to form vapor condensation (droplets) and mold on the ceilings and walls is not deteriorated. 3. Thanks to adequate ventilation is avoided the gradual carbonization and weakening of the concrete that can occur when there is an increased concentration of CO2 in the building because of poor ventilation. |
| Filling capacity of cavities and cracks: | Excellent. |
| Solubility in water: | Although it is soluble in water, it must not be diluted to avoid reduction of its elasticity and its waterproofness. |
| Waterproofness: | Excellent |
| Hydrophobicity and oleophobicity: | Partial. To be achieved further to waterproofness perfect hydrophobicity and oleophobicity of the polymerized resin and the surrounding surfaces, it is required a coating with Contraqua 7/50. |
| Walkability: | After the polymerization is completed, the resin can be walked without any fear. Even higher resistance to walkability is achieved when it is mixed with a few cement. |
| Slipperiness: | It causes no slipperiness. |
| Texture and appearance of the surface after the application: | Almost white smooth coating which looks like industrial floor in texture, but much more soft and elastic, like smooth tanned leather. |
| 6. Satisfied customers | |
| Customer list: | A list of satisfied customers with phone numbers and names of responsible persons, who are willing to convey you their positive experience with the product |
| Applications descriptions: | Descriptions of product applications at our customer sites, consisting of the following sections: a. detailed description of the problem or problems that the customer faced b. description of the solution or solutions we applied c. ways in which the customer found out that the application was successful. |
| Recommendation letters: | Recommendation letters of satisfied customers who by means of the product finally solved some problems for which they until then had not found any solution |
| Frequently asked questions and customer objections: | Please click hereto find answers on any questions, doubts and objections that are often raised by potential buyers of the product, together the valid responses received on various issues, the most important of which are:
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| 7. Market information | |
| Packaging, price, coverage: | For packaging, pricing and coverage, please click here. |
| Guarantee: | For information regarding the guarantee of WINWET products, please click here |
