Waterproofing has always been one of the most important stages of construction and repair. After all, it is from how well the house is protected by moisture and various other atmospheric phenomena depends on how long the roof or the foundation of the house will function.
The only material that can provide and provides solid hermetic protection against moisture and water is the bitumen mastic for waterproofing. It can create a completely seamless protective layer even in the most inaccessible and inaccessible places.
What is bitumen mastic: its composition and advantages
Modern bitumen mastic is a liquid mixture of natural bitumen (as one of the products of oil refining) and special modifier elements that determine a number of important technical characteristics of this material (in particular, its high adhesion to the base and durability).life time).
Bitumen mastic is not only with the simplicity of use as a construction chemical, but also with universality. It is used for waterproofing various bases - wooden, brick and concrete. Also, with the help of this material, all the cracks are closed, roofing material and membranes are glued, cracks are filled in a roof or foundation. Another undoubted advantage of this waterproofing material is its excellent flexibility.
Thanks to him, the bitumen mastic adhes well and holds on almost any basis. He also “perceives” the aggressive environment calmly and does not give chips and cracks for a long time. It is interesting that even bitumen does not even have such characteristics.
On the contrary, he is inclined to crack (especially in cold weather) and leakage (in hot weather). Most of the positive characteristics of bitumen mastic are provided by special additives.
In their role can be “performed” with oil, latex, rubber or rubber. This “cocktail” also includes special mineral components, including lime, basalt wool, brick dust, ash, quartz (in the form of fragments), asbestos, etc.
In addition, modern bitumen mastics contain inhibitors. These are special components that help to resist corrosion processes on metal surfaces. Classification of mastic according to the technological features of application
There is a rich classification of bitumen mastics.
Depending on the temperature regime, which softens or hardens bitumen, there is a mastic: hot application. Before use, such material is heated to 160 s of zero. At such temperatures, bitumen turns into a very plastic mass. After applying to the surface, it quickly hardens and takes on the form of a solid coating.
Heating bitumen is not only laborious, but also dangerous, so it can only be entrusted to specialists. In addition, mastic with hot coating penetrates very deeply into the pores of the surface, so they are often used to waterproof structures that require protection. Cold application.
In such a material, a solvent is added to the bitumen. For this reason, there is no need to heat the material: such a mastic hardens immediately after the solvent is evaporated.
In turn, cold mastics are divided into: one -component. They are usually used to waterproof the foundation. They can be used immediately after opening a jar, which is very convenient in work. However, such material cannot be stored in open containers, as it freezes and loses many of its properties.
Therefore, after opening one -component mastic, it should be used completely, and the waste is thrown away. Two components. This material must be prepared for work: a special thickener is added to the bitumen, which is thoroughly mixed. The process takes some time, but this method significantly saves material (because such an excess of mastic can be stored for some time without changing characteristics).