08/12/2026
Have intentionally kept my mouth shut on this but in a way, I am amazed at the mis-information still being spread about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool project. Especially from a reputable magazine like PlasticsToday. But understand that this may be one’s opinion. Would expect it from the news media though.
The Pipeliner 5000 is NOT a polyurea, it is a hybrid polyurea/polyurethane, non-elastomeric (only 50% elongation) plural component spray coating system, and there is a difference. While the theoretical density is about 1.2 g/cc (from the TDS of the system components), one has to understand that the high-pressure, heated impingement spray mixing, coupled with the fast gel time (~3 secs) can lead to a resulting membrane that is somewhat microcellular. With that, along with the texture / overspray, the membrane can actually float if delamination occurs. The difference between calculated theoretical and actual from the processing.
As far as the Rhino-Flex 11-35, not sure there is such a thing here! There is Rhino 11-35, a sprayable, softer very flexible elastomeric material that was used at the joint areas. Ah but this was NOT polyurea foam as noted in this article. Foam backer rod may have been placed in the joints prior to sealing over with the 11-35, and this is a polypropylene/polyolefin-based foam commonly used in applications like this.
Government documents reveal polyurethane foam sealant failed at expansion joints, not primary epoxy or polyurea coatings used on pool surfaces.
