WELDABLE, FULLY ADHERED WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE SYSTEM FOR BLINDSIDE WATERPROOFING APPLICATIONS

Abstract

A membrane system, having a waterproof woven polymer reinforcing scrim disposed between two layers of a thermoplastic polymer membrane; and an optional layer of concrete activated adhesive applied on top of a center portion, but not to the edges of the thermoplastic polymer membrane so that the edges of adjacent membranes can be thermally welded together to form a waterproof seal for use in blindside waterproofing or roofing applications.

Claims

1. A membrane system, comprising: a thermoplastic polymer membrane; a reinforcing scrim disposed within the thermoplastic polymer membrane; a layer of adhesive applied to a center portion of the thermoplastic polymer membrane but not applied to the edges of the thermoplastic polymer membrane.

2. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is TPO.

3. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing scrim is thermally annealed.

4. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing scrim is coated with at least one of EVA, polyolefins, or polyacrylates.

5. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the reinforced scrim is positioned centrally in the thermoplastic polymer membrane, and the reinforced scrim is inserted between two layers of extruded thermoplastic polymer membrane.

6. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a concrete activated adhesive.

7. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the reinforced scrim is waterproof.

8. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing scrim is made of a woven polymer.

9. The membrane system of claim 8, wherein the woven polymer is polyester.

10. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the edges of the thermoplastic polymer membrane which do not have adhesive applied thereto are thermally welded to an adjacent thermoplastic polymer membrane.

11. The membrane system of claim 1, wherein the edges of the thermoplastic polymer membrane that do not have an adhesive layer applied thereto are between 3 and 6 inches wide.

12. The membrane system of claim 1, further comprising: a release layer disposed over the adhesive layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation view of the present membrane system.

[0020] FIG. 2A is a sectional side elevation view of two adjacent overlapping sheets of the present membrane as used in a blindside waterproofing system for sealing and waterproofing under a building's foundation. The system is shown after it has been placed on the ground and its release layer has been removed, the edges of adjacent membranes have been thermally welded together, and the concrete has been poured thereover to complete the building foundation. (The vertical dimension has been exaggerated in this illustration to clearly show the various layers of the invention).

[0021] FIG. 2B is a sectional side elevation view of two adjacent overlapping sheets of the present membrane as used in a roofing application. The system is shown after the release layer has been removed, and the membrane flipped over such that the adhesive seals face down onto the top of a layer of roofing building insulation blocks. (The vertical dimension has been exaggerated in this illustration as well to clearly show the various layers of the invention).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation view of the present membrane system. TPO membrane 10 comprises an upper TPO membrane 12 and a lower TPO membrane 14. Inserted between TPO layers 12 and 14 is a scrim layer 20. It is to be understood that materials other than TPO (such as EPDM or PVC) can instead be used for layers 12 and 14, all keeping within the scope of the present invention.

[0023] An adhesive layer 30 is applied on top of upper TPO layer 12, as shown. Specifically, adhesive layer 30 is applied across the top central portions of the surface of TPO layer 12, but does not fully extend to the edges of TPO layer 12, as shown. An optional release layer 40 can be placed on top of adhesive layer 30 so that membrane assembly 10 can be rolled up and easily transported to a jobsite. Once at the jobsite (which may be on top of a roof's building insulation, or alternatively, on the ground below grade onto which a concrete foundation is to be poured), the present membrane can be unrolled. Sections of the membrane assembly 10 can then be placed adjacent to one another such that their edges overlap (FIGS. 2A and 2B) and can then be thermally welded together. As such, the overlapping edges of the adjacent thermoplastic polymer membranes that do not have an adhesive layer applied thereto are between 3 and 6 inches wide.

[0024] Generally speaking, the present membrane system 10 comprises: a thermoplastic polymer membrane (layers 12 and 14); a reinforcing scrim 20 disposed within the thermoplastic polymer membrane (i.e.: between layers 12 and 14); and a layer of adhesive 30 applied to a center portion of the thermoplastic polymer membrane but not applied to the edges of the thermoplastic polymer membrane.

[0025] In preferred aspects, scrim layer 20 is made of a woven polymer, including but not limited to, polyester. Scrim 20 is preferably positioned within the thermoplastic polymer membrane, and most preferably the reinforced scrim 20 is inserted between layers 12 and 14 as these TPO (or other suitable thermoplastic polymer membrane) layers are extruded.

[0026] As seen in FIG. 2A, a plurality of membrane assemblies 10 can be used to provide blindside waterproofing underneath a cement building foundation. Specifically, a number of membrane assemblies 10 can be positioned next to one another on the ground (for example, with the edges of membrane assembly 10A and 10B shown overlapping. As can be seen, adhesive layer 30 does not fully reach to the side edges of membrane assemblies 10A and 10B. This permits one assembly to overlap the edge of the other (i.e.: with lower layer of TPO membrane 14 of assembly 10B placed on top of the upper layer of TPO membrane 12 of assembly 10A). As such, these edges can then be thermally welded together with no interference from the adhesive. After the edges are thermally welded together, a layer of concrete 50 is poured thereover to provide the building foundation. This is an example of blindside waterproofing (i.e.: where the waterproofing is outside the building structure and is not reachable). It is critical that the membranes 10A and 10B, etc. provide a waterproof seal since there is no going back to make corrections or adjustments after the cement foundation 50 has been laid down. The present scrim-reinforced membrane is ideally suited for exactly this situation.

[0027] As seen in FIG. 2B, the present membrane assemblies 10A and 10B can also be used in a roofing application. Specifically, membrane assemblies 10A and 10B can be positioned on top of building insulation blocks 60A, 60B, 60C, etc. As can be seen, in this application, the membrane assemblies are flipped over such that the adhesive layers 30 are now downwardly facing. As such, adhesive layer 30 fully adheres the membranes 10A and 10B onto the top of building insulation blocks 60. As can also be seen, the adhesive layer 30 does not extend to the side edges of membrane assemblies 10A and 10B thereby permitting the side edges of the membrane assemblies to be overlapped (and thermally welded to one another similar to FIG. 2).

[0028] Preferably, in the applications of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the reinforcing scrim 20 is coated with at least one of EVA, polyolefins, or polyacrylates and then thermally annealed.