Materials
Sealants are typically designed to resist hydrostatic forces at a precast concrete joint to provide a watertight seal. The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification C990 defines the required composition and performance testing requirements for preformed butyl sealants. Sealants that meet this standard will provide a reasonable level of assurance for performance in watertight requirements. Butyl rubber content and hydrocarbon content are synonymous terms.

Shape
A traditional misconception of preformed sealants is that wider is better. That is a myth. Preformed butyl rubber sealants work best at higher rates of compression. As the sealant is compressed, the resistance force for further compression increases as a function of the percentage of compression. Time and temperature, as well as the sealant composition, will affect this rate. For instance, the force (psi) to compress the sealant the initial 10% to 50% may range from 2psi to 4psi. But as the sealant reaches 75% compression, the resistance force is about 8psi, and at 85% compression, this reaches a force of about 12psi. As the sealant is compressed, the sealing gasket increases in width as it becomes thinner. This width increases the surface area of the applied force. As the area reaches a point of equilibrium with the designed resistance force of the sealant, compression will stop. The analogy best used is the use of snow shoes. As the area of the applied force is increased, the force per square inch is reduced; thus enabling a person to walk on top of the snow.

Size / Volume
How much sealant is needed to seal the joint? The answer is as varied as the types and sizes of concrete castings being produced. There is no magic answer. Too little sealant may cause the joint to leak; too much sealant will be difficult to compress. The size of the sealant required is determined by the volume needed to fill enough of the void to eliminate the possibility that a hydrostatic force will “push” the sealant. A minimum gasket width in the joint of 2″ is common.

Sealant manufacturers will specify the minimum amount of compression that is necessary to assure a watertight seal. The quick answer is a minimum of 50% compression. However, a gap that is too large will not provide an adequate seal, even if the sealant is compressed by 50% of its height. ConSeal recommends a maximum joint gap of 3/8”. This recommendation is good to follow for all joints of precast components. The important thing to remember is that the tighter the joint is, the better the seal is, and the less chance there is of a leak.

A rule of thumb for finding the width after compression is to use this formula: (TF/P)/100, where TF=Total force applied in pounds, P=the length of the entire perimeter in feet. Example: 15,000 pounds of force is applied to a rectangular casting 10′ x 5′. The perimeter is 30 feet. Calculate: (15,000/30)/100=5. Therefore, the sealant will compress to a nominal width of about 5″.

Placement
Sealant placement is critical in providing the best, watertight joint. The preferred practice is to place precast joint sealants where the concrete touches the tightest. Precast joint sealants require placement in or near the annular space.

Adhesion
The adhesion of the sealant to the concrete affects the hydrostatic resistance. Water can pass by sealant through the concrete by absorption if the joint surface is not properly prepared. This will result in wetness in or near the joint, opposite of the side of the joint where water is present. Sealant will adhere to a clean, dense, well-cured concrete surface. Use one of ConSeal’s primers to improve adhesion to the substrate.