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Contraqua 7/50 the versatile surface protection (if the links below refer to Greek pages, contact us for further information) |
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| Buy now Contraqua 7/50 from our e-shop or contact us for further questions | |
| 1. Identification of the product | |
| Category WINWET: | 2. Hydrophobic, oleophobic, resistant to UV |
| Product description: | White, penetrating and coating elastomer emulsion acrylic type water based for the protection of surfaces against water, oil, and other pollutants, fading, solar UV radiation, aging, scars, cracks etc. |
| 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: | Horizontal concrete surfaces indoor or outdoor (e.g. terraces, floors), plastered and painted surfaces (walls, ceilings, etc.), walls with visible bricks and mud, tile roofs and generally surfaces requiring protection against water, vapor condensates and mold, UV radiation, stains, etc. |
| 2. Data on the operation of the product | |
| Which problems are solved by the product and in which ways: | The resin was initially created to protect the plastered and painted walls from water, especially in the northern walls of buildings that are exposed to strong rainstorm. The idea was to design a self-polymerizing resin which would achieve not only waterproofness, like Betostal 2/14 and Betostal SLN that already existed, but also hydrophobicity, which would ensure that the wall would remain dry even after the biggest storm. Indeed, Contraqua 7/50, without penetrating to the extent that Betostal penetrate into the pores of the concrete and the plaster, obtained the absolute hydrophobicity and is currently widely used, either alone or in combination with Betostal, for the protection not only of walls but also of terraces, tile roofs and other surfaces against rain, snow, ice, solar radiation and other causes of damage, which are presented in detail below in the paragraph of “Benefits”. It can be applied over other materials which do not belong to the WINWET family, to protect them from the above factors that degrade them over the years. Caution: For colored walls (i.e. not white) is recommended the use of Aquablock, because Contraqua 7/50 may leave some white traces that would look bad on the color. |
| Operating principle and way of action: | Thanks to the penetrating potential of water in which it is dissolved and the special penetrators it is containing, the resin enters into the pores and capillary cracks of the surface, even when they have a few and shallow pores, such e.g. a painted wall. After that, as the water evaporates, the resin dries. Then, as it comes in contact with the air, starts the polymerization(“lamination”) of the resin. On the completion of all the polymerization the permeable pores and capillary cracks have been permanently sealed and there is no longer any passage for water and moisture, whereas the smallest non-permeable pores remain open and allow perspiration for the building to “breathe”. Moreover, thanks to the micromolecular resin composition, the transparent and colorless film that it is forming on the surface, without affecting the texture of the surface and without making it lubricious or slippery, gives hydrophobicity, oleophobicity and high protection against solar ultraviolet radiation. |
| Benefits: | 1. It protects the surfaces against moisture and mechanical damages due to friction and shock. Moreover, thanks to hydrophobicity the surface (e.g. the wall) is kept entirely dry. 2. It prevents thinning and peeling of the paint caused by solar radiation. 3. It prevents aging and fading of colors. The surfaces look as fresh painted for many years. 4. It protects the surfaces against any kind of stains and the whitening effect caused saltiness, and does not allow penetration into the pores of the surface. 5. It prevents the creation of capillary cracks due to contractions and expansions and microseismic in color and plaster. 6. It prevents freezing of concrete, plaster, bricks, tiles, on which the droplets that overlay freeze overnight and break pieces of surfaces, detach plaques etc. 7. Protection of visible (unpainted) plaster: Keeps the plaster undamaged indefinitely, until it’s time for the painting. (For this purpose is better recommended Betostal F/18, which is a primer for the painting which will be done in the future, while Contraqua 7/50 must be first primed before painted). 8. It achieves significant insulation against cold, since it is not spent the large amount of heat that usually is spent for the evaporation of moisture that enters the concrete when not properly sealed. If you apply it, you will find that your room will be heated in 5 minutes and immediately the thermostat shuts off the burner. It is not an exaggeration to claim that with Contraqua 7/50 in the walls and the terrace, any conventional effort for insulation consist a unnecessary luxury, as the additional energy savings that it will provide will be very small compared to its cost of manufacture. More information on this very important topic can be found here. 9. As it is avoided the phenomenon of cooling by evaporation, diminishes the temperature difference of the wall or the terrace between noon and night, thereby reducing the abrupt expansions and contractions and the damage they cause, such as broken plaster, capillary cracks in the paint, creation of gaps in the joints of contact between two buildings, tiles detachment etc. 10. The small range of temperature variations of the walls and the terrace offers another important benefit: the temperature difference between indoor and the wall or the ceiling is no longer as great as when water vapor condenses on the walls and ceiling and so mold does not grow. To this problem helps further the application of the reflective (cold) paint ANTITHERM to the interior walls. 11. On terraces it prevents moisture penetration, even when due to poor outflow form on them ponds of rainwater. This eliminates the need for outflow cementing. 12. It is easily washed with water and a sponge or with water under pressure. 13. Thanks to the protection it provides to the paint Contraqua 7/50 can be safely used with a cheaper paint which in conjunction with Contraqua 7/50, is becoming much more resistant than the most expensive paint in the market. Attention: the color you will choose should be of non-silicone base, for more good adhesion. However, Smart Technical Solutions recommends COVERLACK 935, which has some additional properties not found in the conventional paints in the market or, even better, ANTITHERM, which is offering extra coolness in summer and fuel savings in winter. |
| Advantages over other methods: | The main advantage is the hydrophobicity and the oleophobicity the resin gives to surfaces applied, and the very good protection of the resin itself and also of the surface against ultraviolet radiation. When used on terraces, compared with tar, bituminous membranes and coating emulsions it has the following advantages: The building “breathes”. You don’t need to reapply every few years. Low cost. Simple and fast application by untrained person without workteams. Walkable and colorless result. It does not get damaged by the sun. It does not peel. It does not rise from waters it does not cover the problem, with the penetration it treats it at its root. When it is used on walls or other surfaces, compared to other coating materials in the market it has the advantage that, because it is applied diluted, it doesn’t format any rind, and therefore it doesn’t peel off. The film created is firmly anchored on the surface. Also it is easily washed with water and sponge or with water under pressure. Note: The painting of the wall with a paint containing silicone does not ensure the desired wall waterproofing but gives a hydrophobicity which does not protect the plaster when the rain falls with momentum (reduced resistance to spray). The difference results in a wall portion that is coated with paints containing silicon and another portion of the same wall that is further coated with Contraqua 7/50 onto the painted surface is impressing. If we pour a glass of water on the painted part we will see that the water slips on the wall, but a large part of it is absorbed by the plaster, while on the other part the water slides and the plaster does not absorb any water. |
| Comparison with other materials of WINWET family: | Compared with the also hydrophobic Betocryl it also offers better protection against ultraviolet radiation, so it is preferred for outdoor applications. In contrast, because of the greater resistance of Betocryl to acidic environment and because of the large thickness of its film when used without dilution, it is preferred for the application in planters, tanks, cesspools etc. Both materials are very resistant to continuous contact with water. For stone, marble, tiles, mosaic etc. prefer the equally hydrophobic and penetrating Aquablock, because Contraqua 7/50 can cause haze or waving when applied to such surfaces. |
| Experiment control of the efficacy of the product: | 1. Hydrophobicity and oleophobicity on horizontal surfaces: a. Hydrophobicity: On a horizontal surface (e.g. terrace) on which has been applied Contraqua 7/50 we pour water and find out that the drops gather in larger groups, forming small ponds. If we wipe the surface with a cloth or sponge, we find out that it has remained completely dry, because it has not absorbed any moisture. We do the same experiment on the portion of the same surface which has not been coated with Contraqua 7/50 and we see that the water disappears immediately into the pores of the surface. b. Oleophobicity: Do exactly the same experiment with cooking oil or mineral oil, and find out that the oil stays in the surface forming a single pond and also doesn’t penetrate into the pores of the surface. After wiping the surface is clean. We do the same experiment on a portion of the same surface that has not been coated with Contraqua 7/50 and we see that the oil is lost immediately into the pores of the surface creating stain that is not cleaned except if using a special cleanser as the Oil Eater (please ask for information). 2. Hydrophobicity and oleophobicity on vertical surfaces: a. Hydrophobicity: On a painted wall coated with Contraqua 7/50 we throw with power a bucket of water. A large amount of the water is reflected and returns with power over us, while a smaller amount forms on the wall drops which quickly slide down to the floor and the wall stays completely dry. Conversely, if we throw a bucket of water on a painted wall without Contraqua 7/50, most of the water will fall on the floor and the rest will be absorbed by the wall making it wet. b. Oleophobicity: Do exactly the same experiment with cooking oil or mineral oil and see that the oil does not permanently stain the wall, because it is easily washed with soap and water. Instead, on a wall without Contraqua 7/50, the oil will penetrate into the paint and the wall will need repainting. 3. Heat insulation: On a cold winter day we turn on the burner to heat our home. We measure how long after the thermostat will turn off the burner. Then we coat all the walls and the roof with Betostal SLN and Contraqua 7/50. After 4 days the polymerization of the resin, if it will not rain in between, has been completed and we do again the same experiment with exactly the same conditions: outdoor temperature, initial and desired internal temperature, closed windows and doors, etc. We find out that the house will warm up much more quickly and the thermostat will turn off the burner in a few minutes! |
| 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. |
| Surface preparation prior to application: | The surface must be dry and well swept, so that its pores are open. If there are cracks with opening larger than 1mm, they should be covered either with Armofix or with repair cement containing Betoplex. Also, it should be preceded priming with the appropriate type of Betostal depending on the type of the application: Betostal SLN for horizontal outdoor surfaces (e.g. terraces) (required) Betostal 2/14 for horizontal indoor surfaces (e.g. floors) (required) Betostal F/18 for vertical or horizontal surfaces (walls, plastered walls that will not be painted, floors etc.) (optional). (In this case Sovaplex DS is equally suitable for primer.) |
| Protection of other surfaces: | Because when it is dried on marble, tiles, metals and other surfaces, it is hardly cleaned protect such surfaces with nylon or newspapers. In case it drips, wipe the surface thoroughly immediately with a damp cloth or paper before starting the polymerization of the resin. |
| Dilution: | 1 part of resin in 1 to 7 parts of water, depending on the film thickness we want to achieve, i.e. depending on the lifetime which is desired for the film (e.g. at a dilution of 1 to 7 may be necessary repetition after 5 to 10 years) |
| Number of coatings: | One coating, if preceded priming. Two coatings if priming did not precede. There is no need to dry out the first coating in order to apply the next. |
| Application methods: | 1. With roller or lightening brush: We care that the roller or the brush have always plenty of material to fully cover the pores and the small cracks. The roller is not recommended for rough surfaces such as frisky plaster. 2. Spraying with a sprayer (the most relaxing way): is recommended the use of an electric sprayer with a barrel, as the manual backpack sprayer is very tiring for large areas. The sprayer must be thoroughly washed immediately after use, otherwise it is getting destroyed. 3. Cast (only for horizontal surfaces): we pour the resin diluted little by little and spread it with a wide hard broom. |
| Required time for the application: | The application of the resin is very simple and quick:
(The times relate to just one coating, not the total work.) |
| Weather conditions during the applications: | 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 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. |
| Drying time: | Within a short time the resin is absorbed by the surface and within a few hours it dries up. |
| Completion time of polymerization: | 4 days or less. During the hot and dry days of summer the polymerization lasts 24 hours. |
| If the surface becomes wet before the completion of resin polymerization: | There is no problem. With another coating the damage is completely restored. |
| Paintability after the application: | The surface is painted with difficulty during the early time. As it ages, it is painted easier. If it is necessary to be painted the surface shortly after the application of Contraqua 7/50, there are the following two ways:
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| Paintability with paints admixture: | It makes no sense to mix the resin with paint before application, because it is not coating and thus cannot paint the surface on which it is applied. |
| 4. Resistance of the applied product | |
| Resistance to expansions and contractions, vibrations and earthquakes: | Very good. The polymerized resin does not lose its shape nor is torn due to the movement and the internal frictions caused by such phenomena. |
| Resistance to shocks and frictions: | Very good |
| 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 and other factors. |
| Resistance to temperature changes: | Thanks to its elasticity the polymerized resin withstands sudden changes in temperature, while preventing the creation of capillary cracks on the surface. |
| 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. Furthermore, the polymerized resin protects also the primer against aging due to the UV and the surface against fading, thinning and peeling of the paint. |
| Resistance to constant contact with water or moist soil or other form of moisture: | Excellent. After its polymerization the resin does not dissolve in water neither is emulsified, even if it remains in continuous contact with moisture, stagnant water, snow, ice etc. for an indefinite period of time. |
| Tolerance to positive pressure: | High |
| Tolerance to negative pressure: | This property is not useful for the kinds of applications that are using Contraqua 7/50. |
| Lifetime: | Unlimited. The polymerized resin does not lose its properties over time, because practically the material does not age (is not dried nor decomposed) and has high elasticity (does not lose its shape nor is torn with expansions and contractions). |
| Periodical preventive reapply: | It is not considered necessary for precautionary purpose the repetition every few years. Optionally, for greater certainty can be applied a coating for enhancement every five or ten years. |
| 5. Natural properties of the product | |
| Product form before its application: | Milky thin liquid |
| Product form after its application and polymerization: | Single transparent, colorless, waterproof cohesive elastic mass |
| Elasticity: | Very good |
| Adhesiveness: | Very good |
| Adhesion – penetration: | Low penetration, strong adhesion, because of adhesiveness |
| Coverage: | The resin, when polymerized, creates strong elastic thin transparent coating layer not perceptible by touch, which does not alter the surface appearance. |
| Air permeability and vapor permeability: | Yes, it allows transpiration, although it is covering thanks to its special molecular composition, because the polymerized resin itself 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. This ensures the following key benefits: 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: | All penetrating resins WINWET fill cracks and pores of maximum width 1mm. For larger widths please see above: “Surface preparation prior to application”. |
| Solubility in water: | Before applied and polymerized, the resin is dissolved in water. |
| Waterproofness: | Excellent |
| Hydrophocity and oleophobicity: | Excellent. The drops of water are not absorbed, even if stagnate on the surfaces, but gather in larger groups, such as mercury, and either evaporate or run down if the surface is vertical or inclined (just like drops of water on the wings of geese). The same applies also for the oily substances. |
| Walkability (concerns only the application on horizontal surfaces): | The surface is walked safely from the first moment after the application. In the first few days the shoes may stick slightly over the surface, this however does not cause any damage to the water insulation. |
| Slipperiness: | It causes no slipperiness on the contrary it reduces the slipperiness of slippery surfaces. |
| Texture and appearance of the surface after the application: | The surface remains slightly sticky until the polymerization is complete and for a few more days. Finally the texture becomes as it was before the application, a little darker and with a little more vivid colors, but without glimmering. |
| 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. (This page is under construction) |
| 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. (This page is under construction) |
| Frequently asked questions and customer objections: | Please click here to 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. |
Buy now Contraqua 7/50 from our e-shop
or contact us for further questions