Around the turn of the century a liquid rubber was developed that could be applied in a cold-fluid process. Eliminating the health and safety concerns of hot applied products. This relatively new formulation is water-based, VOC free and environmentally friendly and combines the elastic properties of rubber polymers with the waterproofing characteristics of a highly refined emulsified asphalt. The result is a proprietary material that forms a properly adhered monolithic, seamless, rubber membrane.
This asphaltic rubber membrane eliminates the vulnerabilities of roll and sheet membranes for moisture infiltration: namely the seams. Cold-fluid applied liquid rubber can be applied from 20 mils to 200 mils dry thickness. Unlike coatings that only provide a film surface or adhesives that require reinforcements for waterproofing capacity, this material forms to a monolithic, seamless membrane that provides instant waterproofing/weatherproofing capabilities.
Another primary advantage of the liquid rubber membrane system is that the material is manufactured directly at application and it is self-leveling. This allows the membrane to conform to substrate irregularities and provides a continuous seal at penetrations, which are typically difficult details in waterproofing applications. The elongation and flexibility of the liquid rubber membrane exceeds industry standards. The average elongation is over 1,000% and the material has the inherent ability to recover to 90% of its original form after elongation. This allows it to withstand typical thermal cycling and it performs very well in extreme cold/heat conditions.
Also, the application temperature range is greater than most other adhesives and coatings and ranges from ambient outside temperatures of 20° Fahrenheit to over 100°F. The membrane is naturally UV resistant and can be exposed throughout the lifetime of the membrane, as well as being compatible with all types of reflective coatings if application is required. Granule surfacing can also be applied.
The membrane is also very durable. Depending on applied dry mil thickness, the membrane can withstand heavy force and is puncture resistant with self-healing and self-sealing properties. The membrane can be applied over damp surfaces and it can be exposed to ponded water for an unlimited duration. The material has been used as pond liners and in containment tanks since its initial inception into the market. The water absorption rate is less than 1% — well below ASTMs minimum water absorption rate for waterproofing materials, which is 5%.
Innovative Waterproofing Solutions has developed different formulations of these cold-fluid applied asphaltic rubber materials into a product line that boasts “the highest rubber content of any products on the market today”. The IWS product line and the systems involved cover a multitude of applications in structural waterproofing, roofing, containment, vapor barrier, pond liners and planters, and even flooring and deck coating.
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