Physical properties of the POLY-MOR materials increase with density. Compressive strength Shear strength Flexural strength Tensile strength. Within certain limits the POLY-MOR expanding polymer demonstrates elastic characteristics. Hooke’s Law indicates that compression is proportional to the applied forces and will not exceed more than 2% – 10% in deviation. Only when force exceeds the elastic limit is the internal cellular structure permanently modified and will not recover its initial form. The elastic limit depends on the density of the material. The four diagrams beside indicate the effect of density on its resistance to forces of compression, shear, bending and tension.
The chemical and solvent resistance of POLY-MOR expanded resins is very good, and resistance to grease and oil is excellent. Rigid expanded resins will swell in aromatic oxygenated solvents, but will regain their properties when dried. Strong acids and bases attack the rigid expanded material and cause chemical degradation. Polar solvents can damage the material, but have limited solubility in these chemicals.
The resistance of POLY-MOR expanded polymer resins to chemical agents has been evaluated as a function of loss of volume following prolonged exposure, and evaluated in the following categories:
Fair resistance (between 6% and 15%)
Poor resistance (between 15% and 25%)
Do not bring into contact (strong solvent action or chemical attack)
Samples of the POLY-MOR expanded material were subjected to immersion in various liquids and to cycles of thermal stress. After the test, variations in volume were measured by means of a high precision optical measuring instrument, and the degree of liquid absorption through variations in flow thrust examined.
There were 10 cycles, each consisting of the following:
The samples were completely immersed in various liquids at a temperature of 23 degrees C for 14 days. Two of the samples already subjected to thermal stress were also subjected to this test by immersion in high octane gasoline.
The liquids used were:
The samples were immersed in 1.25m of water at 20 degrees C for 7 days to determine absorption through percentage variations in heir flow thrust. The test included samples which had been subjected to the two previous tests.
POLY-MOR resins can be applied at extreme temperatures. Tests have been undertaken at the University of Alberta cold room where POLY-MOR resins were applied at -30 degrees centigrade with excellent results. These results have important ramifications for undertaking work in the northern climates.
It is noted that typically Slab-Lifting work is halted when some 1″-2″ of frost has formed in the base soils. It is not that POLY-MOR cannot lift settled slabs under these conditions but typically what happens is the frozen base soils adhere to the underside of the slab so in the lifting process not only the slab is lifted but also the base soils are being lifted as well. In lifting this additional load, cracking of the concrete slab is usually encountered and POLY-MOR prides itself in minimizing the possibility of slab-cracking in our lifting process. Additionally, when the ice crystals in the frozen ground melt in the spring re-settlement of the concrete slab will probably be the result.
POLY-MOR resin systems used in lifting and void filling have very high thermal characteristics with R-Values being in the range of R-5.5 — R-6 per inch of thickness.
Rigid POLY-MOR material does not have any detrimental effect on the environment due to decomposition or degradation.
Rigid and flexible POLY-MOR materials were tested at a disposal site and evaluated after three and five years. The POLY-MOR material, although discoloured, had not changed structure. Analysis of the leachate water did not show a noticeable deviation in composition from leachate water derived from waste which did not contain POLY-MOR material.
The stability of POLY-MOR material is well documented as noted previously. The chemical and solvent resistance of POLY-MOR material is quite good, and resistance to grease and oil is excellent. Rigid POLY-MOR materials will swell in aromatic oxygenated solvents, but will regain their original properties when dried. They are stable in water solutions of common detergents, salts, acids, and bases. Strong acids and bases attack the rigid POLY-MOR material and cause chemical degradation. Polar solvents can damage the POLY-MOR material, but it has limited solubility in these chemicals.
Rigid POLY-MOR material is inert to mildew and fungi and will not get mouldy or decay. The POLY-MOR materials do not nourish insects or rodents. They are chemically neutral. When exposed to sunlight, ultra- violet rays cause a yellowing of the POLY-MOR material and an embrittlement of the surface.
POLY-MOR Canada Inc. has had its products evaluated by Leed-NC and LEED’s Compliance has been secured for POLY-MOR’s products.
(A joint study undertaken by the University of Victoria Civil Engineering & Nirma University Structural Engineering, India and funded by an NSERC grant and Poly-Mor Inc. in 2018)
CONCLUDING REMARKS (The portion relating to environmental issues)
“The process was found to be non-hazardous to the environment and the polyurethane resin does not react with water after curing has been completed. Any leachate produced form the resin not fully cured in a marine environment for this test was below limits for the total nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon set by the Canadian Ministry of Environment for potable water.)
The question on how does our expanding resin systems when injected around waterways impact marine life. The short answer is it does not impact marine life. It also has to be understood that
Poly-Mor never directly injects into waterways and at most injection would take place into the base soils and usually the base soils adjacent to the waterway.
Our expanding polymer resins systems have been NSF/ANSI61 Certified, thus usable around potable water.
A project where marine life was involved and where extensive use of an NSF/ANSI61 Certified expanding resin system was used at the Reed’s Creek Fish Hatchery in Franklin, W. Virginia. The facility produces rainbow, black and gold trout and was experiencing significant leakage from its 8 race-ways as well as void conditions under the raceway/piping structures. This was impacting the structural integrity of the hatchery system. Injections of polyurethane foam was able to effectively and rapidly fill all the voided areas, and stabilize base soils under 80 total overflow boxes and encapsulate and seal the transit pipes. Additionally, the cracks in the raceways were sealed thus mitigating any future water loss in these areas.
We would be pleased to provide Data Sheets, MSD Sheets, Bid Specifications, Technical Manuals, and brochures on our procedures and foam systems upon request.
