The focus area Sealing Components covers research, testing and consulting in the fields of:

• Sealing systems made of flexible sheets for waterproofing based on polymer modified bitumen and liquid applied waterproofing kits
• Hot applied joint sealants
• Asphaltic plug joints

Empa has competent experts and high quality equipment for research, systems engineering, damage analysis and quality tests. With our wide expertise we develop new tests and apply existing ones. Gelpermeationchromotography is used, for the identification of polymer bitumen and for the analysis of the polymer decomposition due to aging and overheating. We are well equipped for system checks on asphaltic plug joints to scale 1:1, with the purpose of testing the behaviour in cold conditions or resistance to traffic load.

 In Research and Development, we work closely with our clients and partners (Swiss Federal Roads Authority, Civil Engineering Offices and private companies). Some of our topics are:

• Influence of material properties, of material composition, of system structures and mounting on the durability of objects
• Development of new system generations for greater capacity
• Elimination of flaws in existing systems
• Check of existing or newly developed tests for long-term behaviour

• AGB 2002/002:      Asphaltic plug joints for normal and large bridge movement; Behaviour after long-term exposure to traffic loads
• AGB 1995/001:      Polymer-modified asphaltic plug joints; Installation and long-term performance. Swiss Federal Roads Authority and Roads Authority Nidwalden. Report no 579 (2005)
• VSS 1991/003:      Joint sealing; Long-term behaviour of polymer bitumen joint sealants on a trial road section. Swiss Federal Roads Authority. Report no 1052 (2003)
• AGB 1998/201:      Determination of the decisive factors influencing the behaviour of bridge waterproofing systems with polymer-bitumen membranes; Laboratory tests. Swiss Federal Roads Authority. Report no 597 (Oct. 2006)
• AGB 2002/022:      Waterproofing of concrete bridge decks using liquid applied waterproofing kits; State of the art. Swiss Federal Roads Authority. Report no 598 (Oct. 2006)
• Private order:        Behaviour of two asphaltic plug joints for large bridge movements. Bitumen 1/04, March, pp19...24 (2004)

• VSS 2005/404:      Accelerated aging method for hot applied joint sealants to simulate the installation process
• BAFU F062-0096: Release behaviour of biocides from roofs into aquatic systems (Sponsor: Federal Office for the Environment FOEN; Project leader: EAWAG)

• VSS 2007/401 Requirement of connecting joint systems for asphalt pavements; State of the art of the experiences in the practice