Safe sealant for PMMA acrylic windows for swimming pools and aquariums a topic that has caused project delays to most of the projects around the world and has caused costly in time and budget variation orders.
Acrylic (PMMA) thermoplastic panels used for swimming pool panels are notable for clarity, long service life and UV resistance & their great mechanical properties. PMMA is resistant to most detergents, inorganic chemicals, aliphatic hydrocarbons, fats and oils, diluted acids, concentrated alkalis and common chemicals used at swimming pool and aquarium operations.
The weak point of the PMMA panels is when they come to proximity to acetone vapors or acetone containing sealants, the acetone will affect the PMMA surface, creating erosion or as we say in the industry, a “chemical burn” that will be slowly dissolving the plastic and eventually affecting its optical properties.
In our 15 years on the field, we have witnessed PMMA erosion caused from home detergents, vapors from plant pesticides & from wrong materials used during the sealing of the PMMA. It is often after the temporary handover that finishing contractors when adjusting the last layer of building materials to the proximity of the PMMA window, use wrong sealants that eventually damage severely the PMMA surface.
In construction sites where the management is operated by a QC consultant, we need to submit a sealant material that will have the TDS certification for “fully submerged”/ underwater installations. This is what most QC consultants care for. What most QC consultants fail to request is that this sealant having this TDS certification for fully submersion to be in the same time, neutral to PMMA surfaces. At the moment there are not more than 3 brands offering this technical solution and is not widely advertised. Not having proper information, often a wrong selection is decided leading contractors to apply sealants that are eventually & actually in a very short time, corrosive to the PMMA surface, resulting in crazed acrylic surfaces that will need immediate costly repairs, even before the end of the defect liability period.
Safe sealant for PMMA acrylic windows for swimming pools and aquariums
I decided to write this article
since this has been a topic that has caused project delays to most of the projects around the world and has caused costly in time and budget variation orders & thought to share our concerns with other professionals.
As basic information, Acrylic (PMMA) thermoplastic panels used for swimming pool panels are notable for clarity, long service life and UV resistance & their great mechanical properties. PMMA is resistant to most detergents, inorganic chemicals, aliphatic hydrocarbons, fats and oils, diluted acids, concentrated alkalis and common chemicals used at swimming pool and aquarium operations.
The weak point of the PMMA panels is when they come to proximity to acetone vapors or acetone containing sealants, the acetone will affect the PMMA surface, creating erosion or as we say in the industry, a “chemical burn” that will be slowly dissolving the plastic and eventually affecting its optical properties.
In my 15 years on the field, I have witnessed PMMA erosion caused from home detergents, vapors from plant pesticides & from wrong materials used during the sealing of the PMMA. It is often after the temporary handover that finishing contractors when adjusting the last layer of building materials to the proximity of the PMMA window, use wrong sealants that eventually damage severely the PMMA surface.
I will elaborate further on the selection of a proper sealant for the sealing and safe installation of the PMMA acrylic window panels.
In construction sites where the management is operated by a QC consultant, we need to submit a sealant material that will have the TDS certification for “fully submerged”/ underwater installations. This is what most QC consultants care for. What most QC consultants fail to request is that this sealant having this TDS certification for fully submersion to be in the same time, neutral to PMMA surfaces. At the moment there are not more than 3 brands offering this technical solution and is not widely advertised. Not having proper information, often a wrong selection is decided leading contractors to apply sealants that are eventually & actually in a very short time, corrosive to the PMMA surface, resulting in crazed acrylic surfaces that will need immediate costly repairs, even before the end of the defect liability period.
At Aqualifepeojects we use specialty sealants that carry the TDS certification for fully submerged installations and in the meantime, being neutral to PMMA. This sealant is polymer based with absence of any acetone in its formula & is curing underwater as well.
Further to this, we always give instructions for safe termination lines and usage of other materials to the proximity to the PMMA panel, securing the safe delivery of the project for many years ahead the contracted warranty period.
Lastly, at the completion of a successful hydrotest, we apply a nanotechnology final coating that acts as a safety layer, neutral to PMMA and its sealant properties. This final coat is applied over the 100% of the PMMA surface and it’s sealant surface, protecting both from dry conditions, sand storms, common construction debris and accidental scratches that occur by the time the facility is operational.
Using this method, the sealant is kept moist and the acrylic panels are protected.
This nano coating is attached to the PMMA surface but when peeled off leaves no residue on the acrylic window surface or its sealant.