Friday, April 3, 2009

CIM Industrial Coatings... the ultimate in concrete protection!


Concrete is one of the most common substrates that CIM protects. CIM high performance coating and linings are often used to coat concrete due to its elastomeric abilities to bridge cracks and move with the concrete as it contracts and expands with temperature changes. CIM is chemically resistant and helps protects the concrete from erosion and can extend the life of the structure. To ensure that the CIM will properly protect and adhere to the concrete, special care should be given to the surface preparation.

Surface preparation is very important when applying any liquid applied coating. To ensure the industrial coating will adhere to the concrete, it must be clean, dry and have a profile. For newly poured concrete, it is important to let it cure to a minimum compressive strength of 3000 psi and have less than 5 percent moisture in the concrete. Though the surface may look dry, CIM requires less than 5 percent in the concrete for maximum adhesion. Many tests can be done to check the level of moisture, the most popular are the ASTM D4263 Plastic Sheet method, the Radio Frequency test and the Calcium Chloride Test. Testing the substrate for moisture prior to the application is imperative. An abundance of moisture in the substrate may result in poor adhesion and possibly lead to blisters and disbondment of the protective coating. It is also important to remove the cement paste and apply the CIM directly to exposed aggregate. Although CIM will adhere to the cement paste, the paste does not have much strength which therefore affects the adhesion. For both new and old concrete, it is important to ensure that the surface is free of bug holes. In existing concrete, cracks must be properly sealed and the concrete must be free of any contaminants before CIM is applied. To properly clean and prepare new or old concrete the preferred method is by abrasive blasting. CIM requires a surface profile, generally expressed as an ICRI 4 to 6, of expose aggregate to maximize the CIM adhesion. Once the surface of the concrete is properly prepared, CIM can be applied. CIM’s adhesion to properly prepared concrete is 350 psi, which is the tensile strength of concrete.

For additional information, please consult our published application guides.

C.I.M. Industries Team
www.cimindustries.com
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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Leaks - we can fix that!

Leaks are a problem in almost every structure’s life and can be caused by movement of the structure or improper joint detail design. CIM high performance coating and lining system is an ideal product to use for repairing or preventing leaks. CIM is a true elastomer, our industrial coating is able to move with the expansion and contraction of the structure due to changes in temperature without disbonding or losing its properties.

Tanks many experience movement in the walls when filled and experience expansion and contraction due to temperature change. Over time these conditions can create leaks. To stop or prevent the leaks, our coating is applied at the floor to wall transitions. Typically the CIM 1000 Trowel Grade (now sold in convenient duel cartridges) is used to create the cant strip which is allowed to cure for at least 12 hours (at ambient temperature) providing a slip joint for the 60 mil CIM elastomeric coating. The CIM is applied over the cant strip and at least 6-inches onto the substrate on either side. The CIM system provides an impermeable barrier that will be able to move with the substrate and protect a structure from leaks.

Penetrations can also be detailed to help prevent future leaking. An advantage of using CIM industrial coatings for this application is the ability to coat a variety of substrates at the same time. For example, a concrete floor with a steel penetration can be coated with the same material which allows for faster turn around. Being liquid applied allows CIM to easily seal around penetrations and floor to wall transitions.

CIM high performance coatings and linings can be used to seal floor to wall joints, seams of steel bolted tanks, areas around penetrations and repair cracks. CIM is a fast and effective way to repair the problem areas. CIM elastomeric coatings are ideal products for owners and applicators who want to stop leaks and keep liquids where they belong!

Please refer to the CIM Instruction Guides and CIM Details for specific substrate information on joint and crack repair.


C.I.M. Industries Team
www.cimindustries.com
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Monday, January 19, 2009

CIM 1000 Trowel Grade Dual Cartridges

The CIM 1000 Trowel Grade packaged in dual cartridges is ideal for small waterproofing applications such as penetrations, joints, cracks, cant strips, rough area, touch-ups and peel tests (adhesion) and many other applications and repairs.

Easy to use!
No Mess!

The CIM 1000 Trowel Grade Dual Cartridge is dispensed using a manual, air, or battery powered caulking gun. The material mixes instantly as it is moved through the static mixer.

CIM 1000 Trowel Grade cures to form an elastomeric, flexible, UV stable, and impermeable barrier to water. CIM also bonds aggressively to most substrates.

Coverage for coating = 4.5 square feet per gallon.

Dispensing guns available from:
COX NORTH AMERICA, INC.
NEWBORN BROTHERS CO, INC


C.I.M. Industries Team
www.cimindustries.com
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Thursday, January 8, 2009

Repairing Industrial Coatings

Repairing CIM is very easy, but special attention should be paid to the preparation of the area. Whether the area is large or small, the surface preparation is the same. When repairing CIM, the coating needs to be severely abraded. It is important to abrade six (6) inches out on each side of the area needing repair. Abrasion can be achieved either by using a surface grinder or wire brush. Acceptable adhesion may only be achieved though aggressive abrasion. Once the CIM surface has been abraded, the area needs to be solvent wiped with MEK or Xylene to provide a clean surface for the application. The MEK or Xylene needs to flash off before a light mist of CIM Bonding Agent is applied to the area. Allow the CIM Bonding Agent to flash off and apply the CIM coating within one (1) hour. The patched area, once cured will maintain the properties of the original coating leaving no seams. Additional information regarding this procedure can be found www.cimindustries.com/contractor-info.

CIM industrial coatings can also be used to repair other liner systems that have failed. When repairing other coatings and adhesion test shall be conducted before the repair work is done. The test is needed to ensure that the CIM has the desired adhesion to the existing liner. While the patch may adhere to the existing liner satisfactorily, it is also important to make sure the existing liner is adhered well to the substrate. Once the adhesion test is done and the desired result are achieved, the rest of the procedure is the same as discussed above.

Please contact our office for specific questions and recommendations when coating over other liner systems 800-543-3458.


C.I.M. Industries Team
www.cimindustries.com
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Monday, December 15, 2008

New England Ice Storm 2009

The C.I.M. headquarters in Peterborough, NH has power again after the ice storm that left New Hampshire in a state of emergency.

We appreciate your understanding during this period.

Happy Holidays.


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Keywords for using CIM

There are keywords and phrases that should trigger the though of using CIM products for a variety of field applications. Each project had its own list of problems that will need to be solved.

CIM polyurethane coatings have the ability to be flexible and handle substrate joint movement. This is demonstrated by our superior crack bridging capabilities on concrete. CIM can also be used to coat over and used in conjunction with dissimilar materials. CIM self-adheres to most substrates such as concrete, steel wood and fiberglass. CIM can also be applied over earth with the use of geotextile fabric CIM Scrim. CIM's abrasive resistance allows it to be used in parking decks and in normal applications wher other products may require a protection board. CIM has excellent chemical resistance to many acids and bases and can be used for secondary and primary containment. CIM is used because of its UV resistance and seamless application and it easily applied around penetrations. CIM has a quick turn around time. Under normal circumstances, CIM can be applied to an application and be put back into service within 24 hours. CIM offers products that are ANSI/NSF 61 approved for potable water and USDA approved for incidental food contact. CIM also manufactures industrial coatings that are 100% solid containing no VOCs and are fire resistant.

Use the CIM Coating Evaluation to see if CIM is the right solution for your project.


C.I.M. Industries Team
www.cimindustries.com
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Though all Seasons… CIM is there to protect

When competing against other products, using CIM can save the owner money both short term and long term. CIM can save labor and equipment costs especially with projects with complex shapes or penetrations. CIM forms a seamless liner, so there are no worries about seam failures. The asphalt extended polyurethane formula makes CIM very abrasion resistant. However, if the liner does get damaged, CIM can be easily repaired. This keeps long term costs down and the portion that was repaired will retain its original properties. CIM is a true elastomer and can stretch many times beyond its original size and return to its original size without loss of properties. It remains flexible at extreme temperatures. CIM also has the ability to bridge cracks up to 1/4 of an inch. With the changing seasons, a big advantage of being an elastomer is CIM’s ability to move with the substrate. As the concrete or steel expands and contracts with the changing temperatures, the CIM moves right along with it. While this article only covers a few advantages, if you are looking for a specific advantage, please contact our office. Our staff will provide you with the technical information that is necessary to help you.


C.I.M. Industries Team
www.cimindustries.com
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