Vancouver, B.C. – (February 2, 2010) – Vancouver-based Kryton International Inc. has launched a product that will benefit brick and block construction worldwide. Kryton’s Krystol Mortar Admixture (KMA) will transform rendering mortars, usually applied to exterior building surfaces as finishes, into waterproof protection for buildings as well.
Krystol Mortar Admixture is based on Kryton’s Krystol technology, which has been used for waterproofing concrete for more than three decades. When added to concrete mixes, Kryton’s proprietary chemical formula reacts to form millions of tiny needle-like crystals that block the capillary pores and cracks in concrete. Kryton’s KMA is modelled after the company’s successful flagship product, Krystol Internal Membrane.
Construction methods in southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, southern Europe and Latin America still depend largely on brick-based construction. Bricks can be manufactured locally and are a fairly low-technology solution to housing shortages and low-rise construction needs in these areas. But the finished buildings depend on a surface-applied sealant for waterproofing, as the bricks and mortar are porous. Because sealants are not a permanent solution – chipping and flaking as buildings age – there was a need for a different solution.
“We’ve tested and refined our admixture specifically to address issues that our field representatives around the world identified,” explains Kari Yuers, president and CEO of Kryton International. “They wanted better adhesion, reduced cracking and decreased curing time combined with the ability to waterproof brick and block construction – we’ve given them the best product to meet their needs.”
Krystol Mortar Admixture also offers the crystalline admixture advantage of self-sealing cracks, even years after its original application.
Kryton International is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of products for waterproofing, repairing and protecting concrete structures. For 37 years, Kryton’s proprietary integral crystalline technology has helped solve the most difficult concrete waterproofing challenges around the globe. An extensive distribution network provides dedicated support that includes third-party application training, ready-mix quality control programs and the waterproofing industry’s leading warranty.