Bitumen is a derived product from oil refining. An irreplaceable material in many areas, but is most often used for waterproofing construction sites, when laying and repairing roads. You can compare it in importance with materials such as rubber, glue or cement. Technical features of bitumen allow you to work with it only while maintaining it in a preheated state. I had to adapt to this drawback until the time when polymer-bitumen mastic appeared - a prototype of liquid rubber.
New polymer features
Polymeric materials have become a new stage in the development of many technologies and materials, and even industries. By acquiring a new formula, bitumen not only eliminated its flaw, but also improved quality. Used bitumen-polymer mastic for waterproofing has now become used for partial isolation from current, noise and temperature.
The new generation of bitumen has new technical capabilities:
- Work with bitumen does not require preparation.
- It does not require heating and working with fire, which, accordingly, reduces harmful working conditions.
- Application in three ways.
- Simplified repair of old bitumen.
No less important are quality indicators :
- Fast hardening.
- Uniform drying without cracks and smudges.
- Good fluidity and filling of small cracks.
- Resistance to UV rays.
- High ductility (the higher ductility, the less the possibility of cracking, chips and depressurization).
- Low bandwidth of sounds and temperature.
- The ability to apply to any texture and shape of any complexity evenly.
Technological features of use and storage
Modern polymer-bitumen mastic is made with the addition of polymers, modifiers, artificial rubber, mineral fillers, solvents that support its pasty, i.e. working condition. The applied mastic does not require any preparation other than mixing to obtain a uniform consistency. Preparation is required only on the treated surface, which must be cleaned of old materials and degreased.
Mastic can be applied to the surface in two ways: by spraying and manually. On complex forms and large areas, polymer-bitumen mastic is applied with special equipment under pressure without air. This makes it possible to obtain a seamless monolithic structure of the coating and ensure uniform drying. But if it is necessary to repair old bitumen coatings or treat small areas, polymer mastic can be applied to the surface with a brush or rubber spatula.
Marking and designations
Complies with GOST bitumen-polymer mastic, and also meets the requirements of international standards. According to GOST, it has its own marking, in which, using the abbreviation and digital signs, significant characteristics and defining indicators are indicated:
- Softening point.
- Penetration - the depth of penetration of a standard needle into the mass.
- Ductility is the property of bitumen to stretch into a thread.
All oil-based mastics are marked with the first two letters of BN. The third letter indicates the category in the direction of the types of work: K (roofing), D (road), I (insulating). Further marking consists of digital designations of temperatures xx / xx. Each application uses its own metrics.
- Road: BND xx / xx - the limits of the penetration change.
- Roofing: BNK xx / xx - the numerator indicates the softening temperature, and the denominator indicates the penetration temperature.
- Insulation: BNI-IV or V.
- Hot bituminous roofing mastic can be made with the addition of herbicides or an antiseptic. The figure is the temperature resistance for 5 hours, the next letter indicates the content of these elements: MBK-G-xx A.
A popular brand of bitumen for outdoor use
Types of bitumen, the most popular and often used in their categories, have an individual name, for example, "Slavyanka" or "TechnoNIKOL".
Bitumen-polymer mastic "Slavyanka" belongs to the category of insulating materials. It has established itself as universal properties for a wide range of applications, undemanding in preparation for work. The one-part composition after opening is immediately applied to the cleaned surface. The pour time is 8-12 hours, after which the coating reliably protects from the electrochemical effects of water in any state (atmospheric, capillary, soil, direct contact). The solidified monolith has a high coefficient of adhesion to surfaces: sand-concrete mixtures, metal structures, wood, asbestos-cement and silicate mixtures, as well as all derivatives of these materials. For hardening, the coating can be reinforced.
It is strictly forbidden to use Slavyanka for internal work!
Universal brand for interior use
Bitumen-polymer mastic “Technonikol” has a completely different purpose. Made on a water basis, it is designed for indoor use. According to the principle of preparation for work and the method of applying the mastic is also convenient and simple. The one-component mixture does not require heating; if necessary, it is diluted with an aqueous emulsion primer and mixed to a homogeneous consistency. It is used for roofing, waterproofing of internal rooms (bathrooms, pools, basements, balconies, etc.). Also, to strengthen the layer, it can be reinforced.
Bitumen reinforcement
To give greater strength, bitumen reinforcement is used, especially for nodes, bundles, conjugated contacting parts. For these purposes, a fiberglass mesh of various diameters and caliber cells is used. An important feature of it is that the grid is not weaving, but a solid construction. But reinforcement, increasing strength, reduces ductility, and it should be carried out only in justified cases.
All polymer-bitumen mastic is made strictly in accordance with GOSTs. Products undergo quality control at all stages of production and are provided with Russian and European (ISO) certificates.