Product Overview

MC-Protect 2KE is a two-component flexible cementitious waterproofing coating from MC-Bauchemie occupying the flexible waterproofing membrane segment of the MC-Protect range — above the rigid MC-Protect 1K single-component slurry (for static, rigid substrates with no cracking or movement) and below full polymer membrane systems (bitumen-modified polyurethane or pure elastomeric membrane coatings) in the waterproofing product hierarchy for the specific application where a flexible, breathable, cement-based membrane is preferred over pure polymer membranes for compatibility, cost, or substrate compatibility reasons. The two-component formulation allows the product performance to be tuned during manufacture: the ratio of polymer emulsion (Component B) to cementitious powder (Component A) determines the flexibility-permeability balance of the cured membrane — a higher polymer ratio produces greater elongation at break and crack-bridging capability at the cost of some reduction in compressive strength and water vapour permeability; the manufacturer determines the correct ratio for the target application (the contractor mixes at the fixed A:B ratio specified on the product data sheet). The resulting flexible membrane after 28-day cure has elongation at break of 50 to 150 percent (versus below 10 percent for rigid cementitious waterproofing slurry) — sufficient to bridge hairline cracks up to 0.3 to 0.5 mm width, covering the thermal cracking range of the concrete and masonry substrates to which it is applied in Indian conditions. The product is compatible with contact with potable water (for drinking water tanks and reservoirs) and with the internal face of swimming pools (for constant immersion waterproofing). Space Arc Engineering supplies MC-Protect 2KE for waterproofing contractors, civil maintenance agencies, and building owners in Ghaziabad, Delhi NCR, Noida, and Uttar Pradesh.

Applications

• Underground and below-grade water tank waterproofing — application of MC-Protect 2KE to the internal surface of underground reinforced concrete drinking water sumps, overhead water storage tanks, rainwater harvesting tanks, and service water reservoirs in residential complexes, commercial buildings, hospitals, and industrial facilities in Delhi NCR and Uttar Pradesh; the flexible cementitious coating accommodates thermal movement and minor settlement cracking in the tank structure without membrane rupture, and the cement-based composition ensures compatibility with potable water contact (no harmful chemical leaching into the stored water — a limitation of some pure polymer or bituminous membranes); the two-coat application system (one coat horizontal surfaces, second coat horizontal plus vertical surfaces in the opposite direction) provides a reinforced waterproofing layer on all tank faces
• Basement wall and floor waterproofing from the positive (water) side — application to the internal face of basement perimeter walls and basement floor slabs in buildings where external tanking from the negative (soil) side is not possible or practical (existing building renovation, restricted excavation space); MC-Protect 2KE applied from the positive (interior) side of the basement wall provides a flexible, bonded waterproofing membrane that can resist positive water pressure from the groundwater outside the wall up to the limits specified on the product data sheet (typically 5 to 10 bar positive pressure resistance); the flexibility accommodates the hairline thermal and structural cracks present in most existing basement walls without the membrane cracking at the crack location
• Terrace and balcony waterproofing under tile finishes or screed — application of MC-Protect 2KE to reinforced concrete terrace slabs and balcony slabs before laying the finish screed and tile; the flexible membrane accommodates the thermal cracking that occurs in terrace slabs from the large temperature differential between the top (roof terrace surface — 50 to 60 degrees Celsius in Indian summer sun) and the underside (shaded or insulated — 25 to 35 degrees Celsius), generating tensile strain in the top slab face that causes reflective cracking through rigid waterproofing systems; the two-coat application of MC-Protect 2KE provides a flexible barrier layer that bridges hairline thermal cracks and prevents water infiltration into the slab while being compatible with tile adhesive and screed overcoating
• Swimming pool waterproofing and pool basin construction — application of MC-Protect 2KE to the internal surfaces of new and existing reinforced concrete swimming pools, splash pads, water features, and ornamental pools before tile or mosaic finish; the product provides the waterproofing layer between the concrete structure and the decorative tile finish, bridging settlement and thermal cracks in the pool basin that would otherwise transmit water through the tile finish and cause tile bond failure and pool water loss; the flexible membrane also accommodates the cyclic loading of pool filling and emptying (changes in hydrostatic pressure cause minor deflection of pool walls) without membrane fatigue failure

Key Advantages

• Flexible and crack-bridging — the critical advantage over rigid cementitious waterproofing coatings — elongation at break of 50 to 150 percent allows the membrane to bridge hairline cracks up to 0.3 to 0.5 mm width in the substrate without the membrane coating cracking at the crack location; rigid cementitious waterproofing slurry (MC-Protect 1K or similar) has elongation at break below 5 to 10 percent and cracks open at substrate crack locations — each substrate crack becomes a point of water ingress through the rigid membrane; MC-Protect 2KE eliminates this failure mode for substrates with hairline cracking or potential future thermal cracking
• Breathable and vapour permeable — prevents blistering and debonding on moist substrates — the cement-based composition maintains water vapour permeability (the cured membrane allows water vapour to pass through, unlike fully impermeable pure polymer membranes); this vapour permeability prevents the blistering and debonding that occurs when a vapour-impermeable membrane is applied to a substrate with residual moisture or vapour-driving conditions; the breathability also allows the concrete substrate below the waterproofing to complete its long-term drying shrinkage without generating vapour pressure at the membrane-substrate interface
• Compatible with potable water contact — suitable for drinking water tanks and swimming pools — the polymer-modified cement composition of MC-Protect 2KE contains no toxic solvents, heavy metal compounds, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that would leach into stored water; the product is tested and approved for contact with potable water (verify current approval status on product data sheet and request product approval certificate before use in municipal water supply infrastructure) — making it suitable for application in drinking water storage sumps and overhead tanks in residential and commercial buildings where health regulations require potable water compatibility
• Easy application by brush or roller — no specialist equipment — MC-Protect 2KE is applied by brush or roller after mixing Component A powder into Component B liquid with a drill-mounted paddle mixer; no specialist spray equipment is required; a standard application crew of 2 to 3 persons can apply 50 to 100 square metres of two-coat waterproofing per day; the application is far simpler and faster than membrane laying (sheet waterproofing) which requires heat welding or solvent bonding equipment and highly trained operatives