Precompressed Expansion Joint Sealing for Dustless Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expansion joint sealing systems face challenges in maintaining watertight and fire-resistant seals in dynamic environments, require on-site assembly, and generate harmful dust during installation, leading to health risks and increased labor costs.
Innovation Solution
A precompressed expansion joint sealing system using a core of open-celled polyurethane foam treated with water-resistant and fire-resistant materials, applied without mechanical grinding or abrading, and secured with a liquid sealant to accommodate structural movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional expansion joint sealing systems are installed using mechanical grinding or abrading of substrate surfaces, then surface preparation improves adhesion, but harmful dust is generated causing health risks and increased labor costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical grinding or abrading processes with a chemical/chemical-physical approach by applying a liquid sealant composition that chemically bonds to the substrate surface. This substitution eliminates the generation of harmful dust while maintaining reliable adhesion through chemical bonding mechanisms rather than mechanical surface preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid sealant composition acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates bonding between the expansion joint sealing system and the substrate without requiring mechanical surface preparation. The sealant composition contains adhesion promoters and flexible polymers that enable strong chemical bonding to the substrate surface as-is, eliminating the need for dust-generating mechanical grinding.
2Productivity
If precompressed expansion joint sealing systems are used to eliminate on-site assembly, then installation time and labor costs are reduced, but the system must maintain watertight and fire-resistant seals in dynamic environments
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion joint sealing system employs composite materials that combine multiple functional properties within a single precompressed unit. The system integrates water-resistant materials, fire-resistant materials, and flexible sealing materials into one composite structure that maintains watertight and fire-resistant seals while accommodating dynamic environmental conditions. This composite construction eliminates the need for on-site assembly of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The precompressed expansion joint sealing system is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction, wind, seismic, shear, and load-generated movements. The flexible sealing material and precompressed design enable the system to dynamically adapt to structural movements while maintaining seal integrity, eliminating the need for complex on-site assembly adjustments.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid sealant is applied to precompressed expansion joint sealing system without surface preparation, then installation becomes dustless and safer, but the sealant must achieve adequate bonding to substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid sealant composition utilizes parameter changes in its chemical properties to achieve strong bonding without surface preparation. The sealant contains adhesion promoters and flexible polymers that undergo chemical bonding reactions with the substrate surface, changing from a liquid state to a bonded solid state. This chemical parameter change enables adequate bonding strength without requiring mechanical surface preparation that would generate harmful dust.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid sealant composition serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the precompressed expansion joint sealing system and the substrate surface. It contains adhesion promoters that chemically interact with both the sealing system and the substrate, creating strong bonds without requiring mechanical surface preparation. This intermediary approach eliminates harmful dust generation while ensuring adequate bonding strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a safer, dustless installation method that maintains watertight and fire-resistant seals, adheres without surface preparation, and meets UL 2079 fire endurance and movement cycling tests, reducing health risks and installation costs.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining the precompressed expansion joint sealing system in the position in the gap until the precompressed expansion joint sealing system expands outwardly toward the opposing surfaces, embeds within the mounting band of sealant
Implementation Method 2
a mounting band of a liquid sealant is applied to the opposing surfaces... until the precompressed expansion joint sealing system... embeds within the mounting band of sealant
Implementation Method 3
preparing the opposing surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate without the need to mechanically grind or abrade the substrates by wiping the opposing surfaces with a solvent
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a safer, dustless method for installing an expansion joint sealing system without mechanically grinding substrates to improve adhesion. The method includes locating substrates forming a gap between opposing surfaces of the substrates, preparing the surfaces by wiping with a solvent, and applying a mounting band of sealant to the surfaces. The method includes disposing the sealing system in the gap proximate to or within the mounting band, maintaining the sealing system in the gap until the system expands toward the surfaces, embeds within the mounting band and secures the sealing system in position between opposing surfaces. The method also includes prior to the preparing the surfaces, removing an existing joint sealing system by cutting sealant between the existing system and the substrates, wiping surfaces with solvent, and leaving any deformation or embedded residue from the removed sealing system on or embedded in the surfaces of the substrates.