Category: Products

Xypex Admix C-500, with its unique crystalline technology, was chosen instead of traditional membranes as the preferred concrete waterproofing and protection solution for the entire 3-story, below-grade parking garage and elevator pits in the new Embassy Suites Hotel in Denver, Colorado. Xypex Admix is blended into the concrete mix in advance of the pour, thereby providing cost savings through more efficient construction scheduling.

As part of its two-year program to upgrade the city’s sewers, drains and pipes, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission approved the use of Xypex Admix C-500 as the concrete waterproofing and protection ingredient in the pre-cast culvert boxes of the new combined sewer overflow system (CSO) at Dorchester Morrissey Boulevard in downtown Boston.

With the ultimate objective of improving water quality in North Dorchester Bay, the project involves the construction of a new storm drainage tunnel comprised of 2810 lineal feet of 12’x12’, 100 lineal feet of 9’x8’, and 660 lineal feet of 8’x8’ concrete box culverts buried some 20 feet into the ground.

Early on, the many benefits of Xypex crystalline technology were recognized and recommended by Concrete Systems Incorporated (CSI), the manufacturers of the pre-cast culvert boxes. Added to the concrete at the time of batching, Xypex Admix C-500 forms a non-soluble crystalline structure throughout the concrete, waterproofing and protecting it from the moment it’s poured. Prior to project start-up, CSI installed mechanical mix equipment that allows the concrete mix crews to monitor and quality check the quantity of Xypex Admix added to each pre-cast box. As the concrete cures, Xypex permanently seals the box to prevent the flow of liquids from the outside in, and the inside out – important considerations in this ecologically-sensitive New England area.

Further advantages to using Xypex were enthusiastically outlined by John Bauld, senior project manager with D’Allessandro Construction who said that, “this innovative process saved us considerable manufacturing time and virtually eliminated any environmental impact common in the preparation process – and it’s more cost effective. We cut the time of manufacturing to shipping from 30 days to less than 10”.

Other environmental advantages of Xypex were also important. In previous CSO projects, Boston Water and Sewer relied on a coal-tar-epoxy application which created environmental and liability issues associated with the application process. This process is applied after the pre-cast culverts are cured and the coating requires significant ventilation and drying time.

However, with Xypex Admix, there are no environmental concerns as the product is non-toxic to begin with and produces no waste in the manufacturing process. Once added to the mix, the concrete is protected against deterioration from the harsh chemical contents of the sewer environment.

When complete in 2009, the new CSO system will provide additional storm drainage for Boston during extreme weather, and surface flow water storage.

In a world where faster often means better, a massive project now nearing completion in Japan – and one that incorporates Xypex products to protect its sensitive integrity – is about ready to push the limit on speed.

The Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) is a new high intensity proton accelerator using MW class high power beams up to 50 GeV – the highest beam power of any accelerator in the world. Because of the sensitivity of this synchrotron and the radioactive processes involved, protecting it from outside moisture and chemical elements was vital. The site of the complex is subject to a high water table and is adjacent to the ocean – presenting contamination challenges that could affect the accelerator’s sensitive functions.

Xypex Crystalline Technology, because of its waterproofing effectiveness, resistance to the marine environment, and its compatibility with the radioactive process, was specified by major firms involved in the construction coalition that built the accelerator – a 3.5 km circular tunnel encased in concrete up to five meters thick. Xypex Concentrate was used on the mud slab and Xypex Dry-Pac was applied to the preformed horizontal keyways and non-expansion vertical construction joints. In a two-coat application, sixty tonnes of Xypex Concentrate was then spray-applied to the exterior walls and roof slab, covering a total area of 50,000 square meters.

The synchrotron fires a proton beam along its 3.5 km spiral circuit into a fixed target. The impact produces a variety of secondary sub-atomic particle beams that allow scientists – some 350 are already involved – to further study material and life sciences and particle physics. Of special interest is the isolation of the elusive neutrino, one of the fundamental particles in the universe, and one that allows the study of supernovae – the explosions that end the lives of stars.

In major sports venues around the world, Xypex is scoring big. Olympian big! In 2000, Xypex products played an important part in the waterproofing and protection of the concrete used in the construction of the Olympic Stadium in Sydney. Now, in Beijing, Xypex crystalline technology is again a winning architectural choice where it is being used on the already famous “Bird’s Nest” Olympic Stadium.

The Bird’s Nest, its lacy structure really does look like a nest, features a high degree of technology and architectural aesthetics. Waterproofing materials used in this landmark project, site of the opening and closing ceremonies at this year’s summer Olympics, were required to meet high environmental standards, have good corrosion resistance, durability, permeability and to be non-toxic. Xypex products and crystalline technology met all of the above pre-requisites and was selected by the project engineer to waterproof and protect the concrete diaphragm walls and slabs of the podium.

The Beijing Olympic Stadium, with post-event seating of 80,000, is located adjacent to the Beijing National Aquatics Centre. As well as being the venue for the main Olympic ceremonies, it will also be the site for the Games’ important track and field events. Once again, Xypex is proud to be playing a functional part in a great international event.