infraStruct | Injectable Leak Sealant

Injectable Leak Sealant

Toolboxes > Manhole > Structure Leak Repair

Tags: Chemical Grouting, Curtain Grouting, Grout, Grouting, Hydrophilic, Infrastructure, Injectable, Injectable Leak Sealant, Leak Repair, Leaks, Manhole Toolbox, Municipal, PR, Sealant

Got Leaks? infraStruct offers several types of chemical grouts for stopping leaks in a variety of structures.

By analyzing the structure type and the size of the leak, we can help you determine which product works best for the given scenario and are fully equipped and certified to apply the selected product:

Weeping Leaks and Gushing Leaks

With weeping or small leaks, a major focus is on the viscosity, or thickness, of the resin. Low viscosity resins can easily penetrate the cracks and ensure that all cracked areas are repaired.

Hydrophilic chemical grouts are attracted to water and ‘chase moisture.’ In doing so, the grout follows all paths along the crack in order to reach and seal the leaks. For purposes of sealing leaks with chemical grouts, a hairline crack is considered one that is 1/16” or less. Several of the products we use are independently verified to meet NSF/ANSI Standard 61.5 for contact with potable water, making them ideal for water treatment, transport and storage structures. Other areas of environmental sensitivity, such as seawalls, are also great candidates for our NSF compliant products.

When encountering a gushing leak, quick reaction or ‘set’ times are important. This ensures that the resin has the opportunity to react with the water currently present and expand quickly enough to form a watertight, rigid foam before the leak can wash grout away. Set times can be controlled by catalysts or activators. Where hydrostatic pressures are high, a hydraulic cement patching material or oakum can be used to stop or slow the flow enough for the chemical grout to react.

Equally important is the expansion rate. Gushing leaks are caused by larger flows of water, meaning that a large area would need to be sealed in order to stop the leak. Using products with higher expansion rates allows for greater coverage of the void area. In below-grade structures, the large expansion rate also serves to fill any voids behind the structure and thus forms a curtain that serves as a 360-degree shield.