Quellfähige Acrylatgele - Eine Instandsetzungsalternative für Bewegungsfugen in Verkehrswasserbauwerken?

Swellable acrylatgels - An alternative maintenance method for expansion joints at navigable waterway constructions?

Could swellable acrylatgels offer an interesting application possibility for navigable waterway constructions? Within a research and development project three for other applications commercially used acrylatgels were investigated with respect to this application. The maintenance of expansion joints is currently unregulated. Concerning the manufacturer two gels are applicable for the maintenance of joints. Selected physical properties of the gels were determined. For statements concerning the compatibility with structural elements, which are in contact with the gels within the joint, concrete models were developed and constructed. The focus on the investigations was on the harmful impacts of waterstop types like PVC and Elastomer and of build-in parts of steel, incl. concrete reinforcement steel. On investigations concerning the injectability of acrylatgels on reinforced concrete the applicability against heavy water pressure was questioned. Furthermore, considerations concerning the ecological relevance of such measures using acrylatgels were carried out.