The water swellable waterstop strip is an active sealing product made from hydrophilic polymer materials. Its sealing mechanism relies on controlled volumetric expansion upon contact with water, actively filling voids within the joint and generating sustained radial sealing pressure to achieve the waterproofing effect.
In its dry state, the strip has a compact cross section, facilitating pre fixing in construction joints or pre formed grooves. Installation requires no heating or large welding equipment, making the process relatively simple and fast. It is especially capable of handling complex conditions such as irregular joint profiles, precast element assembly joints, and remedial leak repair work. Some products feature a self adhesive backing for temporary positioning, further easing installation.
Depending on formulation design, the expansion ratio and rate can be adjusted to meet different construction rhythms and operational requirements, ranging from rapid sealing to slow and sustained compression. Typical application sites include construction joints between diaphragm walls and slabs, segment joints in shield tunnels, gaps around pile heads, annular spaces between wall penetrations and concrete, and it is often used as a supplementary sealing enhancement layer for traditional waterstops.
This product should be stored and transported under dry conditions, and kept away from moisture before installation, to ensure that its expansion performance meets the design expectation when put into service.
