Epoxy injection is a resin-based sealant that is used to repair holes, chips, and cracks in concrete. It is designed to restore the strength and integrity of structural elements in cracked concrete, and can be used in both internal and external situations where heavy vehicle traffic is anticipated. The epoxy tensile bond to the concrete substrate is stronger than the tensile strength of concrete, so it can be used to restore the pre-cracking condition of the member without increasing its strength. Epoxy injections are not effective in waterproofing a leaky crack, but they can be used to successfully repair cracks as narrow as 0.013 mm wide with general epoxy injection resins.
Injection ports are the means by which epoxy resin will be supplied into the cracks, and reinforcement is achieved by installing additional reinforcements along the fault plane in combination with resin injection. The epoxy injection process can be performed in any climate and environment as long as special precautions are taken to ensure that the temperature remains within the range for optimal application. Epoxy and other resins lose strength when exposed to fire or sustained elevated temperatures, so flame retardant protection may be required for such structural repairs. In short, epoxy injections are an ideal solution for repairing holes, chips, and cracks in concrete, but they are not designed to seal leaks.
If water seeps continuously through the crack, it must be stopped for the epoxy injection to produce a proper repair.
