Polyurea - what is it? Polyurea waterproofing

Means for sealing coatings and structural elements for a long time were divided into two categories: natural and synthetic materials. Ironically, in our days there is still a place for natural raw materials, which is superior in its performance to artificial materials. But among the representatives of synthetic substitutes for traditional building materials, there are many worthy options. In this row there is also polyurea. What is it and what is it for? These questions have not been relevant for professional builders, but it's worthwhile for the common man to understand them in more detail. Due to its unique qualities, this synthetic material allows for high-quality insulation, replacing most of the usual means of this group.

General information about polyurea

The material refers to synthetic polymers and resembles polyurethanes, which are synthesized by copolymerization of diisocyanates. Actually, the entry into the group of elastomers and determined the qualities that polyurea possesses. What is this in terms of practice of application? First of all, a material capable of forming solid and durable coatings. The speed of the rejection reaction is quite high, however, additional technological adjustments may be required to make molding articles.

Another feature of the synthetic material is due to the high nucleophilicity of the amines. This means that the structure of finished products has less sensitivity to moisture. It is this characteristic that has determined one of the main tasks for which the polyurea coating is used in construction - waterproofing.

Varieties of polyurea

It can be said that whole groups of synthetic polymers are interrelated and in a sense can act as modifications of one another. Nevertheless, polyurea has two fundamentally different subspecies: aliphatic and aromatic compounds. The first option is interesting in that it can be used to form UV-resistant coatings. That is, treatment with polyurea in the form of applied coating is not deformed and does not lose its shade under the action of sunlight.

The second type is aromatic polyurea, which can be considered as a universal material. So, if aliphatic coatings are more likely to provide protection of the roof, then this option is suitable for waterproofing the foundation, and as a means of processing decorative surfaces indoors. In addition, polyurea waterproofing is used today for production equipment, vehicles, as well as in the creation of permanent protective barriers for hydraulic stations and structures.

One-component and two-component compositions

To understand this separation, one should turn to the principles of polyurea reaction. The material standard is a two-component formulation that acts under the influence of a catalyst. That is, the process of solidification occurs with the help of an auxiliary component. Now we need to address the question of what constitutes a one-component polyurea. What is this in the process of formation of waterproofing coating? It is a convenient material for the application, which does not require the reaction of the catalyst, that is, the crystallization is carried out independently, allowing manual processing.

It would seem that the ease of application should put one-component compounds on the first place, pushing aside the more demanding two-component analog. Nevertheless, in terms of strength, the situation changes in the opposite direction. One-component formulations are advisable to be used as an auxiliary protection, but for the treatment of critical sites, a conventional polyurea should be used. With your own hands, you can apply a two-component composition, the main thing is to use special equipment for this purpose.

Urea waterproofing technology

There are several directions in which waterproofing of this type is applied. This treatment of the surfaces of pools, the sealing of foundations and protection from water roofing. In most cases, the coating is applied in a thin layer by the spraying method. Differences in the approaches may be due to the requirements for the load on the coating, external influences, the degree of adhesion, etc. Again, the polyurea waterproofing can be carried out using one- or two-component compounds. In working with objects such as foundations and roofing structures, it is desirable to use the second type of equipment, since the strength characteristics come to the fore. Less resistant to physical impacts, waterproofing can be used as an auxiliary protective coating.

Manual processing

As already mentioned, one-component composition is more suitable for self-processing. Before applying the material, it is necessary to dilute the polyurea with water. However, dilution should be done only if the viscosity is lowered. In other cases, it is sufficient to stir the solution to obtain a uniform shade. In most cases, polyurea of manual application does not require the use of a special tool or other auxiliary components. It is enough to apply with a roller or brush. But in working with metal surfaces it is still recommended to use a primer. It is also used in the processing of glass surfaces. After the completion of the waterproofing, you should wait one day for the coating to gain sufficient hardness.

Processing with special equipment

Professional builders for the preparation and spraying of polyurea use special equipment. In particular, for these needs, aggregates for the spraying of seamless insulating coatings are offered. As a rule, these are devices operating under high pressure and capable of storing dozens of recipes for preparing mixtures for polyurea. In the latest models, polyurea application equipment is provided with functional modules for analysis of the surface to be treated, level indicators of the working mixture, flow meters and other devices that increase the ergonomics of the apparatus.

Other applications

The combination of hardness and resistance to moisture caused widespread polyurea. Of course, first of all it is used in construction and finishing works. But the merits of the material were also appreciated by shipbuilding companies, car repair shops, service companies, which are engaged in technical support of various structures, bridges and tanks. There is also the benefit of this material as a heat insulator. To understand this property, it is worth recalling the answer to the question, polyurea - what is it. It is, first of all, a fast setting polymer that provides effective sealing and strength. That is, if you treat the surface of the finishing layer with this coating, then you can forget about the cold bridges altogether.

Conclusion

Like all modern technological materials, polyurea is ahead of competing means of isolation at a price. This is not cheap stuff, but the result is also worthy. Another thing is that polyurea must be used for private needs, since the purchase of expensive equipment will make it useless to use this technology. And on the contrary, in case of large-scale isolation measures without special spraying is indispensable. Dosing means will provide a uniform coating and will save on consumption. It should also be taken into account that the producers of polyurea are different, respectively, and the performance of a particular brand may differ.