Hydrophilic Crack Injection for Water Ingress Management.
Managing water ingress through concrete cracks, joints, masonry and seawall structures requires an injection system designed to perform in the presence of moisture. Liquimix hydrophilic crack injection systems use polyurethane resin that reacts with water and expands to help fill voids and restrict pathways for water movement within the substrate.
From active leaks in below-ground structures to cracks and joints in masonry and seawall structures, hydrophilic polyurethane injection provides a targeted approach to managing water ingress.
.
Why Hydrophilic Crack Injection?
Hydrophilic injection resins react with moisture within cracks and voids. When activated by water, the resin expands and forms a flexible foam or grout structure within the pathway of water ingress.
Key Benefits
- Moisture-Activated Reaction: Reacts with water present within cracks and voids.
- Expansion Within Voids: Expands into irregular spaces and internal voids where moisture is present.
- Controlled Injection: Allows applicators to manage injection progressively, helping achieve more controlled material placement.
Typical Applications
Hydrophilic crack injection may be used for water-ingress management in:
- Residential and Commercial Basements
- Lift Pits
- Underground Car Parks
- Water Tanks and Reservoirs
- Pipes and Culverts
- Tunnels and Subway Stations
- Seawalls and structures
Liquimix Crackshot System
The Liquimix Crackshot range includes polyurethane injection products for specific crack, void and water-ingress applications. Product selection and application should follow the relevant Liquimix technical documentation.
Crackshot 150
The Crackshot 150 application methodology covers vertical downward polyurethane injection into seawalls, including rubble stone and masonry structures with open joints or known internal voids.
For applications up to 6.0 m overall height, the methodology uses controlled injection lifts, starting from the highest row and progressing downward to build containment progressively.
Key application requirements include:
- 600–800 mm maximum lift height
- 8–10 horizontal injection rows
- 10–13 mm drilled holes
- 5–10° downward drilling angle
- Minimum 100 mm embedment into sound material
- 300–450 mm horizontal packer spacing, with closer spacing where required
- Mechanical expansion packers
- Slow, controlled injection
The methodology specifies a 0.3–0.5 bar starting pressure, 0.5–1.5 bar typical working pressure, and an absolute maximum of 2.0 bar for rubble and masonry applications.
Crackshot 130
Technical information for Crackshot 130 should be confirmed against the relevant Liquimix product documentation before describing its application, performance or technical properties.
How the System Works
Crackshot 150 is applied using a controlled, top-down injection sequence designed to progressively build containment within the treated area.
- Drilling & Packers
Injection holes are drilled at the specified angle and fitted with mechanical expansion packers. - Controlled Injection
Injection begins at the highest row and proceeds downward, lift by lift. Material is injected slowly until there is a pressure rise, return at an adjacent packer or refusal. - Reaction & Expansion
The injected material is allowed to react and expand before the next lift is treated. The methodology allows approximately 5–15 minutes for reaction and expansion. - Progressive Confinement
Each completed lift provides containment for the subsequent lift below. The process continues downward without skipping rows or injecting below uncured material.
This controlled sequence helps manage material movement and supports progressive filling of the treated area
Application Methodology
Application should follow the current Liquimix technical documentation and be carried out by suitably trained personnel.
INJECTION PROCEDURE
- Crack Preparation
Inspect the crack and prepare the area for injection, removing loose material and debris. - Packer Installation
Drill injection holes adjacent to the crack at the required angle and install suitable injection packers. Liquimix’s current guidance describes drilling at an angle to intersect the crack and securing the packer in the hole. - Bottom-Up Injection
Begin injection from the lowest suitable injection point and progressively work upward through the installed packers. - Progressive Sealing
Inject Crackshot-150 under controlled pressure until the resin penetrates the crack and sealing is achieved. - Completion
Allow the material to react and seal the crack, then complete the repair as required.
Surface Preparation & Equipment
Drilling & Packer Requirements
- Hole diameter: 8, 10 or 13 mm
- Drill angle: 45° to intersect the crack
- Hole cleaning: Clean drilled holes before packer installation
- Packer spacing: Varies according to leak conditions; may be as close as 100 mm
- Packers: Use appropriately sized injection packers and tighten to form a secure seal
Pressure & Injection Settings
Pressure & Injection Settings
Inject Crackshot-150 using controlled pressure appropriate to the substrate, crack condition and injection equipment. Do not exceed the specified pressure for the application.
Important: Do not exceed the specified maximum pressure. If pressure rises suddenly, stop injection, allow the material to react and move to the adjacent packer.
Technical Considerations
- Pressure spikes: If pressure rises suddenly, stop injection, allow the material to react and move to the adjacent packer. Do not chase pressure.
- Injection rate: Use slow, metered injection. Avoid uncontrolled expansion and excessive face movement.
- Quality checks: Monitor each injection point for resin return, gradual pressure build, and any signs of cracking or surface movement as injection progresses upward.
For Contractors & Applicators
- Follow the injection sequence: Begin at the lowest suitable injection point and progressively work upward through the installed packers.
- Secure packers: Ensure mechanical expansion packers are properly anchored into sound material and can resist the specified injection pressure without slipping.
- Monitor injection: Maintain a slow, controlled flow and monitor pressure changes and resin movement through the crack and adjacent injection points.
For Asset Owners & Specifiers
- Methodology: Confirm that the contractor follows the current Liquimix injection methodology, including the specified injection sequence and packer installation requirements.
- Site Assessment: Consider the substrate condition, including cracks, joints, open voids and masonry conditions, when planning the injection approach.
- Technical Documentation: Ensure the work is planned and carried out in accordance with the relevant Liquimix technical documentation by suitably trained personnel.
- Application Controls: Confirm that drilling, packer spacing and injection pressure follow the specified requirements.
Why Choose Liquimix?
Liquimix provides polyurethane and polyurea solutions for waterproofing, crack injection and other construction applications. Product selection and application are supported by Liquimix technical documentation and application methodologies.
For Crackshot 150, the documented vertical downward injection methodology provides a structured approach for applications such as seawalls, rubble stone and masonry structures.
For Technical Data Sheets (TDS), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), application methodologies or project-specific technical information, contact the Liquimix team.
