Aquabead Low VOC Water Repellent
Aquabead is an ultra violet (UV) stable waterborne water-repellant technology designed to optimize the three performance criteria essential in a high performance water repellent specifically formulated for wood. These are long term water beading, excellent liquid water exclusion to eliminate decay, and reduced water vapour transmission to improve dimensional stability and prevent warping and cracking. Additionally, regulatory and environmental requirements for reduced toxic emissions have been incorporated into this product, which has a volatile organic content (VOC) of less than 20 gm/litre and is water-soluble.
Features and Testimonials of Aquabead Wood Treatment.
The significant benefits of the Aquabead can be summarized as:
- Does not change the physical appearance of the wood substrate.
- Reduces warping and cracking due to dimensional changes in the wood.
- Ensures long life durability and protection for both interior and exterior timbers.
- Causes a reduction in physical changes due to water ingress.
- Has a wide variety of easy application methods.
- Has a very low VOC and environmental toxicity.
Technical Considerations
Water repellents for wood that are made of a single component cannot meet all the desired requirements. For example, some materials have the advantage of excellent water exclusion and UV stability but are breathable to moisture vapour.
Some organic materials will block water vapour transmission but degrade on exposure to UV light, while other organic treatments will give the wood dimensional stability but will not last long under exterior exposure or possess the necessary low VOC consideration.
Another set of competing requirements is the need for deep penetration into the wood for effective water exclusion and the need for material to stay on the surface to change surface tension properties and promote beading.
Aquabead solves these problems by using different components to maximize performance of all the required properties. The effectiveness of Aquabead at liquid and gas phase water exclusion may be observed by conducting timber dimensional change swelling tests with thin wafers of wood, gravimetric liquid absorption tests, and visual beading tests - both before and after weathering.
Additionally, the formulation is balanced to provide a good shelf life, and excellent application and process characteristics.
Uses of Aquabead Low VOC Water Repellent
Aquabead delivers a cost effective high performance, durable, water repellent that is suitable for use on all uncoated interior and exterior timber structures where liquid and gas phase water control is essential e.g. decking, framing timbers, posts, plywood, weatherboards etc. It is also suitable for use on all species of timber including hardwoods and softwoods.
While Aquabead is designed for use as a standalone product, it can be incorporated with a colouring system, and/or a complementary biocidal system. Please discuss any of these custom formulation requirements with Chemisys.
Aquabead does not change the appearance of the coated wood, and can generally be coated over with other aesthetic paints and coatings if desired.
Application of Aquabead Low VOC Water Repellent
Aquabead can be applied by brushing, rolling, dipping, in-line production dipping /spraying, or low pressure spraying. For specific application and custom formulation advice, please contact Chemisys.
Aquabead is applicator friendly because is cleans up in water, has a low VOC, low toxicity, and negligible odour
Typical coverage rates for Aquabead are 5 - 15 sq m/litre per coat depending on the porosity of the timbers to be coated, and the application technique selected.