Frequently Asked Questions

AV-100 Chemical Grout is a blend of 95% acrylamide monomer (AM) and 5% methylenebisacrylamide (MBA).

AV-100 is injected as a two-component system, which has the similar viscosity to water (1-2 cP) and changes from a liquid to a solid, and a firm gel in a controllable time frame ranging from 5 seconds to 10+ hours. AV-100 is a true solution grout (has no suspended solids) and is designed to be injected underground to control or stop the flow of groundwater. Once cured, it creates an effective, long-lasting water barrier while providing superb soil stabilization.

AV-100 Chemical Grout is unique in that it is available from Avanti in granular and liquid forms.

The reaction time for AV-100 is controllable and can range from 5 seconds to 10 hours. AV-100 is temperature sensitive, so that must be considered when grouting.

There are optional additives available to help slow down gel time such as Potassium Ferricyanide (KFe).

Acrylamide grout has been used in the construction and rehabilitation industry since the 1950s. It was first used as a soil stabilization method for dam cutoffs but began being used in the sewer system to seal infiltration in the 1960s.

AV-100 Chemical Grout was Avanti’s first product in 1978. Today, the use of AV-100 is used in a multitude of different water control and soil stabilization applications within the municipal, industrial, and geotechnical industries.

AV-100 Chemical Grout is used around the world by owners and contractors to stop water infiltration into manholes, sanitary and storm sewer mainlines, tunnels, mines, and in various other applications and underground structures by stabilizing external substrate. AV-100 is used everyday across the United States.

The product can be injected via remote packer, tube-a-manchette, probe, hand-held injection wand, or F-Assembly.

Acrylamide grouting is a two-component system that utilizes a Tank A and a Tank B system.

In addition to AV-100® Chemical Grout, there is a required activator, AV-101® Cat T+, (triethanolamine), and initiator, AV-102® Catalyst AP (ammonium persulfate) or AV-103® Catalyst SP (sodium persulfate).

AV-101 is added to the grout side tank (Tank A).

AV-102 or AV-103 is added to the catalyst side tank (Tank B).

Mixing Guidelines are available on our website 24/7.

There are three types of grouts that make up the acrylic grout family. Each is used to control groundwater and has varying cured gel strengths.

• Acrylamide grout like AV-100 is the cornerstone of the industry and has been used in the U.S. since the 1950s.
• Acrylic grouts like AV-118 Duriflex have less acrylamide in them and have been used since the early 1990s in the U.S.
• Acrylate grouts like AV-160 Super Gel have been available since the 1970s but have only recently gained acceptance in some markets. Acrylates contain no acrylamide and are more expensive than other acrylics. AV-160 creates quite a strong gel but many acrylates on the market create very weak gels.

Avanti’s AV-150 Acrylate Gel is NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 – Drinking Water Systems Components – Health Effects certified.

Download NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 – Drinking Water Systems Components – Health Effects Certificate.

Over 40 years ago, Avanti collaborated with suppliers, customers, industry partners and associations to develop the Safe Operating Practices Program or SOPP as a training guide for users of acrylamide and acrylic injection grouts.

The SOPP is designed to be the minimum standard for safety, training, and use of personal protective equipment for the grouting industry using acrylic injection grouts. For more information about the SOPP or to complete online 24/7, visit www.avantigrout.com/SOPP.

AV-100 is designed as a long-term solution. Studies conducted by the US Department of Energy indicate that the half-life in the soil of properly applied AV-100 is 362 years.

Acrylamide is in our everyday diet!

According to the Food and Drug Administration, acrylamide is a chemical that can form in some foods during high temperature cooking processes, such as frying, roasting and baking. Acrylamide in food forms from sugars and an amino acid (asparagine) that is naturally present in foods. The major food sources of acrylamide are French fries, potato chips, crackers, bread, and cookies, breakfast cereals, canned black olives, prune juice, and coffee.

Pure acrylamide is considered a neurotoxin. Therefore, when handling AV-100 Chemical Grout (acrylamide), proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be worn. However, it is important to note that acrylamide has a higher LD50 than some everyday substances such as aspirin and caffeine.

In toxicology, the LD50 or median lethal dose of a substance, is the dose required to fatally affect 50% of a test population after a specified duration. The LD50 for a given substance is expressed as the mass of an administered substance per unit mass of test subject. An LD50 of less than 5,000 is considered toxic; therefore, the lower the LD50 the more lethal the substance.

The table below presents the acute oral LD50 (rat) of acrylamide in comparison with other familiar substances.

Microorganisms in soil and natural waters assimilate unreacted acrylamide molecules. Additionally, dyes are frequently added to track the individual components during the injection process. In the event of a spill, the grout should be cured and disposed of, the site neutralized with potassium persulfate and sodium metabisulfite solutions, and then rinsed with water.

Once AV-100 has cured, the gel is inert, non-toxic, stable, and irreversible.

No, the use of acrylamide has never been banned in the US.

In the early 1990s, the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) proposed a ban on the manufacturing, distribution, and use of acrylamide grouts. 

In a notice dated December 2, 2002, the EPA announced the withdrawal of a proposal that would have banned grouts containing acrylamide and the acrylamide derivative N-methyloacrylamide (NMA).

After being educated on the safety and benefits of these products, the EPA withdrew the proposal with the knowledge that specific worker safety training was available. Avanti continues to offer Safe Operating Practices Program (SOPP) training to ensure that those handling the products know how to handle them safely.

No. According to the International Agency on Research for Cancer, IARC, acrylamide is listed under category “Group 2A: Probably Carcinogenic to Humans.” Other known substances listed under the same category consist of diesel engine exhaust, emissions from high temperature frying, and emissions of burning wood to name a few.

While proper care and precautions are necessary when handling any injection grout, these products are safely and successfully used throughout the world every day. If you have questions or need further information, call us at 800-877-2570.

Unlike slag or fly ash based grouts, pumice is a naturally non-hazardous product. Safe enough to clean your teeth and scrub your face, pumice is mother nature's safe and natural way to fortify an ultrafine grout for centuries of service. - Pumice induces a pozzolanic reaction proving unsurpassed durability as evidenced by the majestic concrete relics of the Roman Empire still standing after 2,000 years. US Grout's Ultrafine SD and Ultrafine VX products are available exclusively from Avanti and remain the only pumice-based grout in North America.

Yes!

Avanti and US Grout are proud to be American owned and operated companies. US Grout (Idaho) produces the only American-made Ultrafine cementitious grout available in the world today. There is a stable North American supply for your cementitious grouting projects.

For over 20 years, Avanti has remained the exclusive distributor of US Grout cementitious products around the world.

Ultrafine SD is tested and certified by NSF International as complying with NSF/ANSI Standard 61 - Drinking Water System Component requirements.

Download Ultrafine SD Download NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 – Drinking Water Systems Components – Health Effects Certificate.

While proper care and precautions are necessary when handling any injection grout, these products are safely and successfully used throughout the world every day. If you have questions or need further information, call us at 800-877-2570.

Hydrophilic grouts like to stay in a moist environment. “Philics” simply use moisture to start the reaction and should remain in a moist environment after curing. Learn more about our Hydrophilic Polyurethanes.

Hydrophobic grouts can go through wet/dry cycles. Most “phobics” require some form of catalyst and a small amount of moisture to start the reaction. Learn more about our Hydrophobic Polyurethanes.

As a general rule, we do not recommend grouting below 40°F because the cold temperature slows down the reaction times significantly. If using a product with a catalyst, perform cup tests with site water to determine the catalyst amount and result of the cured grout. In actual freezing temperatures, you may not have leaks in cracks to stop if the water is frozen. If injecting below the frost line, the temperature at ground level may not affect the grouting operation.

When used properly and in accordance with manufacturer recommendations, rehabilitation with injection grouts will typically last the life of the structure.

For more information on crack injection, view the Variable Pressure Application Technique (V-PAT) Technical Manual. The V-PAT is a recommended guideline based on experience, however each job is unique and could require deviation depending on jobsite conditions.

While proper care and precautions are necessary when handling any injection grout, these products are safely and successfully used throughout the world every day. If you have questions or need further information, call us at 800-877-2570.