Description
ARDEX RA 54 is a fast-setting, semi-rigid polyurea joint sealant used to fill interior control joints and new construction saw joints in horizontal concrete surfaces. It is designed for industrial floor applications receiving heavy duty vehicle traffic, and can also be used externally where joint movement from thermal cycling is minimal, in the order of 10 to 12%. Manufactured by ARDEX Australia.
Semi-rigid is the operative word. A flexible sealant in a warehouse control joint gets pushed aside by forklift wheels and the joint arris spalls; a semi-rigid polyurea at Shore A 75-80 supports the joint edges under load while still taking up the small seasonal movement a control joint sees. Repaired joints reopen to full traffic in 90 minutes. Also written ARDEX RA54.
Technical Specifications
| Product type | Fast-setting semi-rigid polyurea joint sealant |
|---|---|
| Colour | Grey |
| Viscosity, mixed | 500 centipoise |
| Gel time at 24 degrees C | 3 minutes |
| Shave time at 23 degrees C | 45 minutes |
| Cure time at 24 degrees C | 90 minutes to reopen to traffic |
| Tensile strength | 8.3 MPa |
| Bond strength | 2.8 MPa |
| Adhesion to concrete | 1.9 MPa |
| Elongation | 82% |
| Shore A hardness | 75-80 |
| Movement accommodation | 10-12% of installed joint width |
| Maximum joint width | 19 mm |
| Joint depth – heavy duty traffic | Minimum 3 x width, or 60 mm |
| Joint depth – light foot traffic | Minimum 13 mm |
| Volatile organic compounds | 0 g/L |
| Application temperature | -40 degrees C to 50 degrees C, substrate and ambient |
| Packaging | 254 mL cartridge |
| Shelf life | 18 months unopened |
Coverage Rates
Joint sizes are width by depth in millimetres. Figures are linear metres per 254 mL cartridge.
| Joint size | Linear metres per cartridge |
|---|---|
| 3 x 25 mm | 3.14 m |
| 3 x 50 mm | 1.58 m |
| 5 x 25 mm | 2.1 m |
| 5 x 50 mm | 1.04 m |
| 6.5 x 25 mm | 1.58 m |
| 6.5 x 50 mm | 0.79 m |
| 13 x 25 mm | 0.79 m |
| 13 x 50 mm | 0.4 m |
Shave Time by Temperature
Based on a 12 mm bead thickness.
| Temperature | Shave time |
|---|---|
| 38-49 degrees C | 20 minutes |
| 27-38 degrees C | 30 minutes |
| 21-27 degrees C | 45 minutes |
| 16-21 degrees C | 1.5 hours |
| 10-15 degrees C | 2 hours |
Where to Use
- Interior control joints in concrete floors
- New construction saw joints
- Industrial and warehouse floors carrying heavy duty vehicle traffic
- Exterior joints where thermal-cycling movement is minimal (10-12%)
- Floors exposed to fuels, oils and dilute acids – see chemical resistance below
How to Apply
- Check the substrate – old concrete must be clean, completely dry with no moisture present, then profiled or textured. New and freshly poured concrete must be fully cured for a minimum of 28 days to release its moisture. Mechanically roughen smooth surfaces with a wire brush or sandpaper.
- Prepare the joint – using a saw or grinder with a dry diamond or concrete abrasive blade, cut along the crack or joint. The edges must be at 90 degrees to the surface – a feathered edge leaves the concrete unprotected. Blow out and remove all dust, dirt, debris, oil and other contaminants.
- Break the bond at the base – place backer rod or kiln-dried sand in the bottom of the joint before applying the sealant. Bonding to the bottom can cause sealant failure as the joint expands and contracts.
- Set up the cartridge – keep it upright to prevent leaking and do not tilt it until you are ready to apply. Shake vigorously for 60 seconds, then stand upright for 5 minutes. Insert into a heavy-duty caulking gun and remove the cap. Before attaching the nozzle, dispense a small amount into a disposable container until both materials flow evenly, then thread the nozzle on clockwise. Purge air by pointing the nozzle straight up and bringing product to the tip, then dispense one stroke at 45 degrees into a container. After purging, always point the cartridge downward when not dispensing so mixed material cannot flow back into the cartridge.
- Fill the joint – place the mixing nozzle directly over the joint and dispense with full smooth trigger pulls, not short choppy strokes, letting the material gravity feed. Where the joint is to be shaved, overfill it so the material sits slightly proud of the slab face.
- Shave flush – allow approximately 45 minutes at 23 degrees C, then shave the excess from the top surface with a sharp floor scraper. Reopen to full traffic after 90 minutes. Clean tools with white spirits, mineral turps or an aerosol dewatering agent before the product hardens.
Chemical Resistance
Recommended for continuous service with 10% acetic acid, 10% bleach, 5% citric acid, crude oil, diesel fuel, hydraulic oil, fatty acids, room-temperature water, 10% sodium chloride, 10% hydrochloric acid, 5% lactic acid, 1% nitric acid, 10% phosphoric acid, 20% sodium hydroxide, 20% sulfuric acid, 50% urea and vinegar.
Limited recommendation for occasional spills only: acetone, bleach, motor oil, petrol, Skydrol hydraulic fluid, ethylene glycol, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene and xylene.
Important Notes
- Not for use in expansion joints, and not intended for joints subject to high movement.
- Highly sensitive to moisture during application and cure – it cannot be used if any dampness is present. Once cured it is moisture insensitive.
- Do not force adhesive out of a hardened mixing nozzle. Fit a new nozzle to avoid rupturing the set or mixing improperly, and never transfer a used nozzle to a new cartridge.
- If a leak develops, stop immediately and continue with a new cartridge and nozzle.
- The cartridge is fully dispensed when the plunger reaches halfway.
- Before any topcoat, wait 24 hours, then use a premium primer – this is mandatory. Follow the primer manufacturer’s cure schedule and observe a small test area of primer and topcoat for 7 days before proceeding with the full application.
- In exterior applications the product initially changes colour from grey to grey-green, returning to grey after 90 days.
- Shelf life is 18 months if unopened.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many metres of joint will one cartridge of ARDEX RA 54 fill?
A 254 mL cartridge fills approximately 3.14 linear metres of a 3 x 25 mm joint. Other joint sizes: 3 x 50 mm gives 1.58 m, 5 x 25 mm gives 2.1 m, 5 x 50 mm gives 1.04 m, 6.5 x 25 mm gives 1.58 m, 6.5 x 50 mm gives 0.79 m, 13 x 25 mm gives 0.79 m and 13 x 50 mm gives 0.4 m. Figures are width by depth in millimetres.
How deep should the joint be for ARDEX RA 54?
For heavy duty traffic areas the joint width should be a maximum of 19 mm and the depth a minimum of three times the width, or 60 mm. For light foot traffic the width should still be a maximum of 19 mm but the depth need only be a minimum of 13 mm. In both cases place backer rod or a small amount of kiln-dried sand in the bottom of the joint so the sealant does not bond to the base – bottom bonding causes sealant failure as the joint expands and contracts.
Can ARDEX RA 54 be used in expansion joints?
No. ARDEX RA 54 is not for use in expansion joints, and is not intended for joints subject to high movement. It will accommodate 10 to 12% movement of the installed joint width when backer rod or sand is placed at the bottom of the joint, which covers interior control joints and new construction saw joints, and exterior applications where only minimal thermal-cycling movement occurs.
