‘Bringing High-Performance Waterproofing Products’

Can you tell us about your company’s background? How did you get into the waterproofing business?

Our company, Amchem Products Pvt. Ltd is the pioneer and industry leader in Solvent Free Polyurethane Coatings for infrastructural sector for the past two decades. Starting from technology acquired from a US company in the early 1990’s we have gone on to become international leaders at the forefront of this technology. We also do many concrete coating projects such as large seawater cooling towers in thermal power projects and wastewater treatment facilities. Therefore, we have a lot of expertise in coating concrete as well. Amchem is widely recognized as the best in the business.

How are your products different from the competition? How difficult was the market acceptance?

Traditional waterproofing products are either multi-layer sheet applied ones with inherent leaks from joints or solvent borne thin film coatings. Our products are liquid applied using paint rollers, solvent free and applied to a thickness of 1.50 – 2.00 mm. They are extremely tough with high tensile strength and do not require any mechanical protection. You can use it on foundation rafts and lay the reinforcing steel over it without damage. Yet they are flexible and elastic with good crack spanning capacity. They bond so strongly to concrete that in pull off tests, the concrete breaks and not the bond. Drythane^® is so inert that it can be continuously immersed in water for applications such as water tank lining and swimming pools. You can now make a roof garden without the fear of spoiling your home or office below.

What the current market trends? 

Most large-scale developers are moving away from low quality, cheap products to high performance products. Sheet applied products are being replaced with liquid applied coatings to avoid joints and to have an intimate bond with the surface so that no liquid can intrude under the films. Thin film solvent borne and single component Polyurethanes are being replaced by solvent free, thick film Polyurethane and hybrid Polyurea.

What are your latest products? How are they different from the existing ones?

We have launched a revolutionary hybrid Polyurea called Drythane Plus^® which can be applied with paint rollers! Polyurea normally needs to be sprayed with complicated 2K tip mixing spray equipment since it sets in seconds.

We have also introduced heat reflective polyurethane topcoat for Drythane^® which can reduce the temperature of the concrete surface in peak summers by as much as 12 degree C. Climate change and heat sink effect of large concrete cities makes it essential we urgently begin to embrace these technologies. It also makes economic sense due to cost saving in air conditioning.

Finally, we have introduced solvent free, aliphatic polyurethane topcoat which has long term colour and property retention in sunlight and UV. Possibilities of this product are exciting to say the least. With a Drythane^® base coat (0.70 mm) and aliphatic topcoat (0.30 mm) you can coat the façade of buildings to achieve a completely seamless, impermeable, weather resistant surface without adding weight or the risk of falling tiles etc. This will be especially invaluable for coastal cities where marine air & rain causes corrosion and fungal growth to create unsightly and dangerous buildings. 

What would you like to share with your audience at large?

Don’t just restrict your creativity and spending on expensive marble and interiors. Spend a little time and money to go for a good waterproofing!! Dampness can cause unsightly walls and roofs, create breathing and allergy issues by providing breeding grounds for bacteria, fungi & spores; and reduce the life of your expensive assets.