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Polymer binders for waterproofing membranes

Professional installer applying a polymer-modified waterproofing membrane with a roller in a bathroom as tile underlayment.

Waterproofing membranes based on polymer binders adhere reliably to various substrates, forming a durable, flexible barrier against water.

Whether they be basements, foundations, swimming pools, bridges or canals: structures that come into contact with water need reliable waterproofing membranes.

Our polymer binders for waterproofing membranes can be used to formulate solutions that meet the highest requirements – from cementitious waterproofing membranes to bitumen-based liquid waterproofing membranes. Thanks to polymer modification, all membranes offer excellent adhesion, flexibility and durability, even under hydrostatic pressure.

Waterproofing membranes – challenges and solutions

Typical challenges:

  • Movements in the building structure lead to cracking in the waterproofing
  • Hydrostatic water pressure puts the waterproofing to the test
  • Different substrates can make adhesion more difficult
  • Extreme temperatures and UV radiation impair the durability of the membrane

Our solution:

Waterproofing membranes based on VINNAPAS® polymer binders adhere reliably to various substrates, forming a durable, flexible barrier against water. The binder improves the tensile adhesive strength and enables effective crack bridging, even when there is movement in the substrate.

GENIOSIL® low-viscosity hybrid polymers are suitable for membranes that are processed even under extreme conditions and they do not require solvents or plasticizers.

Test methods for 1K cementitious waterproofing membranes

Our vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) grades comply with the requirements of European ecolabels such as Blue Angel and Emicode EC1 Plus.

Formulation and application methods of 1K cementitious waterproofing membranes

Product properties

Dispersible polymer powder for formulating 1-component (1K) waterproofing membranes

The benefits:

  • Reliable barrier against both negative and positive hydrostatic pressure
  • Water-vapor permeability
  • Bridging of cracks caused by shrinking or settling of substrate
  • Accommodation of small movements in the substrate
  • Excellent adhesion to different substrates and materials
  • Excellent adhesion after immersion in water
  • High flexibility
  • Good UV resistance
  • Improved tensile adhesive strength
  • Easy workability and application (brush, trowel or roller for small areas; machine spray application for large areas)
Bar chart showing the crack bridging of two waterproofing membrane formulations at 23 degrees Celsius and minus 5 degrees Celsius. One formulation contains VINNAPAS® 5044 N, the other formulation contains VINNAPAS® 7055 E. Crack bridging is indicated in 0.2-millimeter increments. At 23 degrees Celsius, both formulations bridge cracks 0.8 millimeters wide. At minus 5 degrees Celsius, the formulation with VINNAPAS® 5044 N bridges only 0.5 millimeters, while the formulation with VINNAPAS® 7055 E bridges more than 0.6 millimeters.

Crack bridging as per EN 14891 (mm) – formulation with a resin/cement ratio of 1.45

Applications:

  • Basement walls and foundations
  • Underground parking lots
  • Showers and bathrooms
  • Balconies and terraces
  • Multifunctional rooftops (e.g., rooftop terraces and parking decks)
  • Swimming pools
  • Sewers, canals and water pipes
  • Water tanks (including drinking water)
  • General concrete infrastructure

Brochures

VINNAPAS® | Dispersible Polymer Powders for Polymer-Modified Cementitious Waterproofing

PDF 3.3 MB English

Test methods for 2K cementitious waterproofing membranes

VINNAPAS® VAE grades can be easily mixed with other dispersions, as their solids content is high and their viscosity is low. They also provide good shear-thinning properties and have practically no impact on the setting behavior of portland cement.

2K cementitious waterproofing membranes with VINNAPAS® fulfill the requirements of EN 14891 with regard to water impermeability under hydrostatic pressure.

Formulation and Application Methods

Product properties

Polymer dispersions for formulating 2-component (2K) waterproofing membranes

The benefits:

  • Good shear-thinning properties
  • Practically no impact on the setting behavior of portland cement
  • Excellent crack-bridging ability
  • Excellent tensile adhesive strength
  • Good UV resistance
  • Enhanced cohesion and adhesion to different substrates
  • No odors
  • Low VOC levels

Adhesion Bond Strength Conditioned in a Wet Environment

Adhesion in wet environments

Applications:

  • Basement walls and foundations
  • Underground parking lots
  • Showers and bathrooms
  • Balconies and terraces
  • Multifunctional rooftops (e.g., rooftop terraces and parking decks)
  • Swimming pools
  • Sewers, canals and water pipes
  • Water tanks (including drinking water)
  • General concrete infrastructure

Brochures

VINNAPAS® | Dispersible Polymer Powders for Polymer-Modified Cementitious Waterproofing

PDF 3.3 MB English

Test methods for ready-to-use 1K waterproofing membranes

Product properties

Polymer dispersions for formulating ready-to-use 1-component (1K) waterproofing membranes

The benefits:

  • Simple application without mixing
  • Excellent elongation, flexibility and crack-bridging ability at temperatures between 0 °C and room temperature
  • Excellent tensile adhesive strength
  • Good UV resistance
  • Reliable barrier against hydrostatic water pressure
  • Enhanced adhesion on many non-porous or non-polar substrates
  • Bridging of cracks caused by shrinking or settling of substrate
  • Excellent compatibility with ready-to-use tile adhesives based on the same silanized S/A copolymer dispersion technology

Formulation and application methods for ready-to-use waterproofing membranes

Applications:

  • Basement walls and foundations
  • Underground parking lots
  • Showers and bathrooms
  • Balconies and terraces
  • Multifunctional rooftops (e.g., rooftop terraces and parking decks)
  • Swimming pools
  • Sewers, canals and water pipes
  • Water tanks (including drinking water)
  • General concrete infrastructure
A worker applies a bitumen emulsion modified with polymer binders to a concrete wall with a trowel.

Compared with conventional SBR and neoprene-based membranes, VINNPAS® polymers feature enhanced tear strength and crack-bridging properties, and can easily replace chlorine-containing polymers.

Product properties

Polymer dispersions for the formulation of 1-component (1K) and 2-component (2K) waterproofing membranes

The benefits:

  • Improved adhesion and increased durability
  • Highly compatible with bitumen emulsions
  • Excellent elongation and elasticity
  • Enhanced crack-bridging ability, even at low temperatures
  • Reduced water uptake
  • Shorter drying times
  • Reduced residual tack
  • Reduces or eliminates the need for ammonia and acrylic thickeners

Applications:

  • Roofs
  • Basement and foundation coatings
  • Exterior wall coatings
  • Primers for bitumen sheets

A worker in protective clothing uses a roller to apply a liquid waterproofing system modified with hybrid polymers to a flat roof.

These highly stable, long-lasting membranes can even be used under inclement conditions such as rain and cold (down to -10 °C) without incident. They dry very quickly and have properties comparable to those of polyurethane-based products – without the use of solvents or plasticizers.

And the use of alpha-technology-based GENIOSIL® WP1 also eliminates the need for zinc catalysts.

Product properties

Silane-terminated hybrid polymers (MS polymers)

The benefits:

  • 1-Component system
  • Contains no solvent or isocyanate
  • Easy application with a roller or airless spray gun
  • Can be used under cold, damp conditions
  • Adheres to substrates without a primer
  • Dries quickly, withstands rain within a short period of time
  • Does not shrink
  • Remains flexible at temperatures between -40 °C and +80 °C
  • UV resistance
  • Good mechanical and excellent chemical resistance
  • No need to wear protective masks or clothing
  • Opens the door to ETAG-certification for roof-sealing systems

Applications:

  • Waterproofing of balconies, courtyards and flat roofs
  • Detailed waterproofing work on rooftop structures, such as skylights and air-conditioning systems
  • Horizontal under-tile waterproofing
  • Moisture barrier under floor screeds
  • Horizontal waterproofing that withstands hydrostatic pressure

A laboratory assistant pours a transparent, elastic waterproofing system modified with binders based on silane-terminated polymers onto a test surface.

These waterproofing membranes have a low odor and can be applied without personal protective equipment, even under unfavorable conditions. They are fast-drying and have properties comparable to polyurethane-based products – without the addition of solvents or plasticizers. And the use of alpha-technology-based GENIOSIL® WP1 also eliminates the need for zinc catalysts.

A laboratory assistant uses a roller to spread a transparent, elastic waterproofing system modified with binders based on silane-terminated polymers onto a test surface.

Product properties

Silane-terminated polymers for liquid waterproofing membranes (MS polymers).

The benefits:

  • Formulations exhibit considerable mechanical strength yet remain highly elastic
  • Provides reliable waterproofing, even under dynamic stress
  • Outstanding tear resistance coupled with excellent durability
  • Very good UV stability
  • Strong without additional reinforcement
  • Highly transparent
  • Finished products last a long time
  • Our alpha-technology enables tin-free catalysis
  • Cures rapidly to form tack-free surfaces
  • Broad adhesive profile
  • Very simple processing
  • No need to wear protective masks or clothing

Applications:

  • Strong, highly transparent films
  • Industrial coatings and adhesives; tin-free if needed
  • Crack-bridging waterproofing membranes
  • Liquid waterproofing membrane for flat roofs, balconies and terraces
  • Waterproofing underneath tiles
  • Waterproofing membranes for interior and exterior basement walls
  • Primers with vapor-barrier properties
  • Potting compounds for horizontal expansion and movement joints

FAQs on waterproofing membranes

Waterproofing membranes prevent the penetration of water and moisture into buildings. They are used wherever buildings or infrastructure are permanently in contact with water, e.g. foundations, water tanks, balconies and swimming pools

Polymer binders such as VINNAPAS® improve adhesion, flexibility and crack bridging. This makes the waterproofing membrane more durable and more resistant to movements in the substrate and to hydrostatic pressure. Our portfolio includes dispersible polymer powders for liquid waterproofing membranes and polymer dispersions for professional-quality waterproofing. membranes

1K membranes consist of a polymer-modified dry mortar that is mixed with water before application. They are particularly easy to use. With 2-component membranes, two components (dry mortar and polymer dispersion) are mixed before application.

Modern binders such as our VINNAPAS® VAE grades meet environmental standards such as Blue Angel and Emicode EC1 Plus. They are low-emission, solvent-free products that contribute to sustainable construction. Liquid waterproofing membranes based on our GENIOSIL® WP hybrid polymers (MS polymers) do not require solvents or plasticizers and, depending on the type, no tin catalyst either.

Polymer binders have good UV resistance. Flexibility, adhesion and crack bridging are retained even after long-term weathering, without the membrane becoming brittle or losing its performance.

For applications in the cold or in high humidity, GENIOSIL® hybrid polymers are suitable. These binders enable waterproofing membranes that can be applied even at -10 °C and dry quickly – without solvents or tin catalysts.

For Watertight Results

Wherever water contacts masonry, waterproofing systems have an important role to play. We make sure that waterproofing membranes make reliable, long-lasting water barriers by testing them under extreme conditions at our Technical Competence Centers.

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Waterproofing Made Easy:
VINNAPAS® for 1K Cementitious Waterproofing Membranes

To prevent leakage and water damage, walls and floors in wet rooms need to be waterproofed. Cementitious 1K waterproofing membranes modified with VINNAPAS®dispersible polymer powders are the best choice: See for yourself!

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Testing cementitious waterproofing membranes: crack bridging beats elongation

To create a durable water barrier, waterproofing membranes must be flexible enough to accommodate structural movement and bridge fine cracks. That’s why they should be modified with VINNAPAS® dispersible polymer powder. However, while various test methods exist to assess flexibility, not all provide results that reflect real-life conditions. Let’s take a look!

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