Aqua Bead

Aqua bead Low VOC Water Repellent

Aqua bead is an ultra violet (UV) stable waterborne water-repellant technology designed to optimize the three performance criteria essential in a high performance water repellent specifically formulated for wood. These are long term water beading, excellent liquid water exclusion to eliminate decay, and reduced water vapor transmission to improve dimensional stability and prevent warping and cracking. Additionally, regulatory and environmental requirements for reduced toxic emissions have been incorporated into this product, which has a volatile organic content (VOC) of less than 20 gm/liter and is water-soluble.

Features and Benefits of Aqua bead Wood Treatment.

The significant benefits of the Aqua bead can be summarized as:

• Does not change the physical appearance of the wood substrate.
• Reduces warping and cracking due to dimensional changes in the wood.
• Ensures long life durability and protection for both interior and exterior timbers.
• Causes a reduction in physical changes due to water ingress.
• Has a wide variety of easy application methods.
• Has a very low VOC and environmental toxicity.

Technical Considerations

Water repellents for wood that are made of a single component cannot meet all the desired requirements. For example, some materials have the advantage of excellent water exclusion and UV stability but are breathable to moisture vapor.

Some organic materials will block water vapor transmission but degrade on exposure to UV light, while other organic treatments will give the wood dimensional stability but will not last long under exterior exposure or possess the necessary low VOC consideration.

Another set of competing requirements is the need for deep penetration into the wood for effective water exclusion and the need for material to stay on the surface to change surface tension properties and promote beading.

Aqua bead solves these problems by using different components to maximize performance of all the required properties. The effectiveness of Aqua bead at liquid and gas phase water exclusion may be observed by conducting timber dimensional change swelling tests with thin wafers of wood, gravimetric liquid absorption tests, and visual beading tests - both before and after weathering.

Additionally, the formulation is balanced to provide a good shelf life, and excellent application and process characteristics.

Uses of Aqua bead Low VOC Water Repellent

Aqua bead delivers a cost effective high performance, durable, water repellent that is suitable for use on all uncoated interior and exterior timber structures where liquid and gas phase water control is essential e.g. decking, framing timbers, posts, plywood, weatherboards etc. It is also suitable for use on all species of timber including hardwoods and softwoods.

While Aqua bead is designed for use as a standalone product, it can be incorporated with a coloring system, and/or a complementary biocide system.

Aqua bead does not change the appearance of the coated wood, and can generally be coated over with other aesthetic paints and coatings if desired.