Understanding Xypex Crystalline Waterproofing
Traditional waterproofing is often based on creating a physical barrier between water and a structure. Examples include bituminous membranes, liquid-applied coatings and sheet membranes.
Xypex Crystalline Technology works differently.
Instead of relying entirely on a barrier sitting on the surface of the concrete, Xypex uses reactive chemicals that interact with moisture and the by-products of cement hydration inside concrete.
According to Xypex, water acts as a catalyst that enables the proprietary chemicals to move through the interconnected pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. A chemical reaction then produces insoluble crystalline formations within these pathways.
The objective is simple:
block the pathways through which water travels through concrete.
Why Can Water Move Through Concrete?
Although concrete appears solid, its microscopic structure contains:
- pores;
- capillary tracts;
- microvoids;
- small cracks; and
- interconnected pathways.
Where concrete is exposed to groundwater or hydrostatic pressure, moisture may move through these pathways.
This becomes particularly important in structures such as:
- basements;
- lift pits;
- foundations;
- retaining walls;
- tunnels;
- reservoirs;
- swimming pools;
- water tanks;
- sewage treatment structures; and
- underground concrete structures.
Xypex technology is designed to work within these capillary pathways rather than simply cover them.
Preventative and Remedial Xypex Waterproofing
There are two particularly important ways of introducing Xypex technology into concrete.
Preventative: Xypex Admix
For new concrete construction, Xypex Admix C-Series can be incorporated into the concrete during batching.
The waterproofing technology therefore becomes part of the concrete from the beginning rather than being added afterwards. Xypex lists applications including reservoirs, basements, foundations, tunnels, parking structures, swimming pools and water-treatment facilities.
Remedial: Xypex Concentrate
For existing concrete, Xypex Concentrate is applied to a prepared and pre-saturated surface as a cementitious slurry.
The active chemicals penetrate the substrate and react inside the concrete to develop crystalline formations within the capillary network.
This means crystalline waterproofing can form part of both:
new-construction waterproofing and remedial waterproofing.
Where Tetrabuild Can Apply Crystalline Waterproofing
At Tetrabuild Services Limited, crystalline waterproofing may be considered as part of technical solutions for:
- concrete basements;
- water tanks;
- foundations;
- retaining structures;
- lift pits;
- reservoirs;
- underground concrete;
- treatment plants;
- concrete leakage repairs; and
- other structures exposed to moisture.
The correct product and method should always be selected after assessing the structure, source of water, concrete condition, joints and hydrostatic conditions.
Crystalline waterproofing is not simply a coating — it is a concrete waterproofing system that works within the structure itself.
