Epoxy crack injection is a structural repair method used to restore the strength and integrity of cracked concrete. It involves injecting a low viscosity epoxy resin into the crack to fill it and bond the two sides together. This method is suitable for cracks of different widths, from ultrafine to pasty. Epoxy injections are designed to restore the pre-cracking condition of the member without increasing its strength.
However, they are not effective in waterproofing a leaky crack, as epoxy resins will not shift or react with water. Furthermore, epoxy and other resins lose strength when exposed to fire or sustained elevated temperatures, so flame retardant protection is required for such structural repairs. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) specifies acceptable crack widths in structures under defined conditions. According to ACI 224R-012, acceptable crack widths can range from 0.004 in.
Pressure epoxy injection can be used to bond cracks that have an opening greater than or equal to 0.05 mm. In order to repair larger and finer cracks, engineers have been looking for ways to fully inject repair polymers into cracked concrete structures. The general consensus is to seal the crack with a sacrificial epoxy and install injection ports every few centimeters. Thick epoxy is then injected at high pressure into the crack with expensive resin injection pumps. This process takes a long time, the epoxy is brittle, the equipment is expensive, and the skill level is highly specialized. That's why a reliable crack and leak repair system can sometimes make the difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful project. Roadware 10 Minute Concrete Mender and soft-tip injection mixers are designed to structurally repair cracks and delaminations of concrete with simple tools and methods.
Wire brushing and vacuuming the surface of the crack along the crack is often sufficient for preparation. Let the compression spring of the dispensing tool push the material into the crack with slow and steady pressure. Most homeowners better identify concrete cracks in their basement, either in the foundation wall or in the floor. In this case, the application may require a gel viscosity injection epoxy (CI-GV) or may not be suitable for epoxy injection repair without excavation and sealing of the back of the crack. The ARDEX injection range for concrete crack repair uses a high-strength, fast-setting two-part system to repair concrete damage from fine cracks to structural repairs. Using low-pressure crack injection, foundation and basement crack repair kits seal basement cracks from the inside, eliminating the need to dig the ground from the outside of the foundation. In conclusion, epoxy crack injection is an effective structural repair method used to restore strength and integrity of cracked concrete.
This method is suitable for cracks of different widths, from ultrafine to pasty.
