TRU-SEALER - The low cost waterproofing solutions
IntroductionTru-Sealer was originated in Nevada, U.S.A., in early 1910. the aim at that era was designed to protect concrete from the airborne chemicals (salts) used in the deicing procedures in the northern United States.
Subsequently its performance as a waterproofing product, as a concrete sealer and hardener, as well as its ability to protect concrete from airborne pollutants and chemicals harmful to the long life of concrete, has made Tru-Sealer unique in its price/performance when compared with traditional alternatives.
Its ease of use in many and varied applications has made it economical in its initial application, and when used as part of a system approach, detailed later, it becomes easy to maintain in an open system environment. Tru-Sealer is a colourless, odourless, non-toxic, non-caustic, non-flammable, deep penetrating concrete treatment.Its technology is such that it replaces, and out-performs many of the existing sealers, membranes and coatings in most applications.
Tru-Seal Main Features- Penetrates normal concrete by more than 20mm
- Hardens the penetrated concrete.
- Protects the concrete from deterioration by chlorides and airborne pollutants.
- No change to the features of the concrete, i.e. slip resistance and aesthetics
- Inhibits the ingress of oils, greases and light acids.
- Is user and environmentally friendly.
- Has a life expectancy similar to concrete.
Treated & Untreated sample difference
How Does It Work
Whilst there are many sealants available in the market, some which sound similar, there is a history to Tru-Sealer which has proven the claims made for this product to have substance in the long term. The design concept of the product has given Tru-Sealer a multiplicity of applications. Where, with other systems a number of products have to be used to achieve an objective, Tru-Sealer can achieve most objectives with one application. As well as penetrating deeply into the concrete, it sets up a long term pore blocking action which creates its own hydrophobic barrier to water penetration. At the same time it bonds with the particles of the penetrated concrete causing the penetrated area to harden. By the pore blocking action it densifies the concrete without affecting the strength characteristics of the original concrete design.
No visible change takes place to the surface, therefore the application of aesthetic finishes such as tiles, paint or screeds are not affected.
Cost EffectivenessTru-Seal application costs are well below those of reasonable quality membranes and have the added advantage that no protective screed is required. This creates quite interesting price differences, resulting in cost savings in the structure.
This different approach has enabled small design changes in certain structures which also contribute, substantially, to the overall cost savings.
Application MethodTru-Sealer is applied by brush, roller or most preferred is the spray method, at a rate of 3m2 per litre to a slightly damped surface. The surface should be pre-wetted when it was too dry. It is normally applied to the hydrostatic side. It can also be applied on the negative pressure side. For best performance, the concrete should be at least 7 to 28 days old, to achieve optimum penetration.
After application it is allowed to dry for at least 2-4 hours and is then watered thoroughly. All glass, aluminum and wood stained areas should be protected during the spraying and watering procedures. Application should be avoided during high wind conditions. The best results are achieved when used on reinforced concrete. Application to other materials should be discussed prior to application.All oils, greases, paint or failed membraces and coatings should be completely removed prior to application. This can be done by the application of water-based cleansing products such as Pro-cleaner. Tru-Sealer should not be applied in temperatures lower than 5～C or higher than 45～C. In fact it should not be applied if there is a likelihood that because of concrete temperature the product may evaporate before it penetrates.
The only site interference is during the application and the first watering period. After this the surface is open to human or vehicular traffic. Although Tru-Sealer has a wide range of uses, each structure has its own unique problem, which will require the use of ancillary products to achieve the total result required. Areas such as cold joints, expansion joints and shrinkage cracks at the slab/parapet interface are examples where a system approach would be preferred.
The application of Tru-Sealer is limited to Approved Applicators, and no guarantees will be issued unless done by currently Approved Applicators.
On normal concrete, Tru-Sealer should be successful within a seventy-two hour period. However some materials such as screeds, plaster, low quality concrete or concrete blocks may take a little longer to perform due to the size of the voids within the material.
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| HK NewAirport AFSC Admin Building Roofing |
| Toxicity | Nil |
| Odour | Nil |
| Flammability | Nil |
| Boiling Point | 100～C |
| Freezing Point | 0～C |
| Thinning | Not necessary |
| Solubility | 100% in water |
| Viscosity | Approx. 7 centipose |
| PH value | 9.7 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.13 at 25～C |
| Vapours | Water only |
| Colour | Transparent, colorless after drying |
| Elements Present | Na, Si, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr Major constituent: sodium silicate |
| Hazard Data | No flash point, non-explosive, classed non-flammable, HazardousChemicals: sodium silicate 74% |
| Health Hazards | Oral: non, Skin: some irritation over long exposure, Eye: severe irritation (wash immediately), Inhalation: none |
See the Material Safety Data Sheet for further information.
Common Questions1. Effects of UV
None. Tru-Sealer has effectively sealed in the first 20-30mm of concrete. On the surface, pore-blocking polymers, which are subject to ultraviolet degradation, will bio-degrade over time. This is not a problem, as there is 20-30mm of protection present internally.
2. Puncture Resistance
Tru-Sealer has hardened the penetrated area of more than 20mm. A puncture of more than this depth would probably fracture the concrete and repair would be necessary anyway. This is why Tru-Sealer is ideally suited to high traffic conditions.
3. Elasticity
Tru-Sealer is totally compatible with concrete, which makes it react in the same way as the concrete. This makes it quite unique when compared to alternative traditional methods. New thermal stress cracks should not occur after treatment however if severe thermal stress does cause new cracks then Tru-Sealer should reseal automatically.
4. Bonding
Tru-Sealer will increase the bond strength by 25% (tensile strength improves by 53%). This bonding is important when addressing spalling repairs, or the cold joint which can occur in parapet pours.
5. Coatings
Tru-Sealer can be coated with many materials such as screeds, membranes, coatings, paints, plaster, tiles etc. The only precaution is to make sure that all excess silicates have been removed from the surface during watering process.
6. Durability
The known performance life is over 70 years to date. However the design concept and the bio-chemical reactions are such that academics familiar with these concepts and the performance of the product believe there is a possibility the product should have a life similar to the concrete. This belief is based on the fact that once the hydrophobic seal and the deep penetration have taken effect there is no environmental influence, which should be able to destroy that seal. This, of course, excludes leaks caused by structural faults or mechanical damage.
ApplicationsTru-Sealer is used in each of the following applications. To achieve a total system result to meet the user objectives, ancillary products are used, but are not discussed in this brochure. These ancillary products are of a similar high quality and carry similar warranties of performance.
Car Parks Tru-Sealer will seal thermal stress cracks up to 3mm wide, harden the surface to that of granite to the depth of penetration, will stand high levels of thermal stress. One example is concrete temperature of 65⊥ dropping to 18⊥ with rain within a 30-minute period. The concrete was power float finished and no additional material was used.
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| Swimming Pools Tru-Sealer has been used on both RC pools and Shotcrete (Gunnite) Pools. Special procedures at the corners and interfaces were instituted. Special grout was used when applying the tiles. A full water test must be done before the tiles are applied particularly when Shotcreting is used. The surrounding des system has also been designed to give no problems. The use of chlorine in fresh water pools is often over looked as the source of problems in the long term and this is the key to the success of the Pool System. |
| Tanks This system covers water tanks, aquariums and other water holding vessels. Because Tru-Sealer is non-toxic, it is ideally suited for these vessels. Similar techniques as swimming pools are used. The outside of water is often overlooked, and should be viewed from the concrete protection point of view. |
| Roofs Use of the Tru-Sealer System approach on flat RC roofs, has resulted in the cost savings of more than 30% than in the cost of the roof structure. Tru-Sealer has enabled small design changes to standard procedures, which remove the potential for problems in the traditional approach. All elements of the roof such as the slab edges, interfaces, plinths, parapets and drains are included in the roof system. |
| Basements The developments of new technologies and construction design have enabled the development of low cost basement system in water tables. Basements have the problem that once completed there is virtually no guaranteed way to fix them if something goes wrong. So special care has been taken in the design of the basement systems. |
| Bathroom / Toilets A traditional source of pain for contractors and developers has been overcome by the development of a system, which guarantees no problems. All elements such as the slab and drains are treated to ensure success. |
Concrete Protection Many walls in the building are allowed to stand for long periods before the paint is applied. This allows the ingress of pollutants, which will cause the paint to deteriorate. By applying Tru-Sealer to protect the concrete, this will have the effect of stopping the pollutants from permeating the concrete. The development of long life paints will give long-term cost / benefit performance.
 Port facility in Germany |
| Flooring Because of its ability to harden concrete to that of granite to a depth of 20-25mm Tru-Sealer makes an excellent hardener. Unlike most flooring system which place a hard material on the concrete or into the top 1-2mm, Tru-Sealer hardens the concrete itself. All other methods rely on the bonding ability of the flooring material. Concrete is good material in its own right. Tru-Sealer simply enhances concrete own capabilities. It does not try to complete with materials such as epoxy screeds, which are expensive, but provides a low cost alternatives where the objectives of the end user can be met at the right price. |
| Non-Standard Applications Tru-Sealer has been used in many non-standard situations where the requirement is going to be very expensive or disruptive. The key to the chemical reaction of Tru-Sealer is the availability of free calcium ions. It is unusual for these not to be present. Together with these ions is the ability of the applicator to ascertain the path of the water. If both of these conditions can be met, it is likely that a result will be achieved. Some examples are, cracks underneath tiles, overflow drains in the swimming pools, retaining walls behind fill, concrete pipes inside beams are a few examples where Tru-Sealer has been successful. The use of Tru-Sealer to rehabilitate plaster, which is debonding, has a degree of success. Similarly with block walls where the quality of the blocks has allowed leaking to occur. The key to the success of these non-standard applications has been the ability to analyze the problem correctly. |
TRU-SEALER when used correctly, is the KEY to low coat waterproofing solutions
GUARANTEEThe information given on these product data sheet is based upon tests believed to be accurate at the time of printing, but since we have no control over the working conditions, materials involved and the circumstances under which the purchasers stores, handles or used this material, we make no warranty or condition either express or implied, with respect to this material. We reserve the right to alter any of the foregoing information at any time without prior notice.