Types of epoxy flooring coatings
Three main types of epoxy flooring can be grouped: solid epoxy floors, solvent floors and water-based epoxy floors.
Polymer floor coatings based on epoxy resins are widely used in the construction practice, and are increasingly used for personal purposes. Their advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Their main advantages are associated with very high mechanical strength, good chemical resistance to organic solvents and alkaline media (bases), easy application, ability to make anti-slip coatings, electrical conductivity, flame retardant floorings, non-sparking and chemical resistant floors, good adhesion to various substrates. From an aesthetic point of view, there is a great variety of colors and effects. Despite the many advantages, epoxy self-leveling floor coverings have also some disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages of epoxy floors is that they are not resistant to elevated temperatures (usually Tmax = 50 ° C in the long term and Tmax = 70 ° C in the short term). Another disadvantage is that in order to achieve a good finish, it is necessary to go through a number of steps that require time. First, the defective areas are removed and the integrity of the base is restored with suitable materials; then the surface ust be grinded; primed with epoxy primer; the front layer of epoxy flooring is applied and, if necessary, sealed with a topcoat. These steps are a must if you want the result to be flawless.
SOLID or SOLVENT - FREE EPOXY COATINGS
This type of coating is simply a resin with some hardener, without added water or solvents. They create the thickest floor covering, this is usually the most durable option. This makes it a good choice for situations such as warehouses that will be subjected to very heavy loads.
The big disadvantage is that solvent-free coatings have a very short working time They must be applied within approx. half an hour (depending on the specific resin) before the gelling itself begins and becomes difficult to spread. This makes their installation much more expensive.
All solvent-free coatings have a thicker dry film than solvent- or water-based products. Depending on the product and the method of application, the thickness of the film can be 10 millimeters or more. This type of coating is mainly used in industrial and commercial enterprises.
These epoxy systems provide excellent durability. They have very good chemical resistance.
WATER - BASED EPOXY COATINGS
Water-based or water-soluble epoxy floor coverings are gaining more and more popularity. Their lower VOC content is seen as a clear advantage when VOC limits are relatively strict. Water-based epoxy coatings usually have a very low to zero solvent content and minimal odor, and depending on the product, can often be applied to concrete while it is still wet or still in the hardening process. We produce such type of water-based epoxy floor covering - Daupol V. This coating has a matte finish. It is suitable for indoor use, as it changes color under the influence of UV rays. Some of its applications are for flooring for warehouses, production facilities, including those in the food industry, hospitals, schools, offices and more.
Water-based epoxy coatings are designed for light loads. They are suitable for offices, laboratories, hospitals, food companies, where the load is not high and it is necessary to have no emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Applying such a floor is carried out in sections, and the humidity should be no more than 85%.
To prolong the viability of the mixture, additives are added that slowly evaporate, such as water, so that the work window is larger before active curing begins. The great advantage of water-soluble systems is that no harmful fumes are released. This makes them safer and easier to operate. However, water-based epoxy technology does not yet produce materials with the level of chemical resistance and durability required for many commercial and industrial applications.
SOLVENT-BASED EPOXY COATINGS
Epoxy floor coverings based on solvents / solvent /. This type of coating has some advantages over other types of epoxy coatings. They have a greater tolerance to oil pollution (which makes them ideal for coatings for underground car parks and garages). They are resistant to dilute acids, bases, oils, fats, gasoline, kerosene, alkaline solutions, aggressive gases. Due to the solvent content, solvent systems have higher levels of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOC is any compound whose initial boiling point, at standard pressure, is less than or equal to 250 ° C. It follows that organic solvents belong to the volatile organic compounds. It should be mentioned here that VOC emissions are released during the application and hardening of the coating. The solvent content improves the adhesion and self-leveling properties of the solvent coatings. Solvent coatings are recommended for indoor use if you do not apply a topcoat with UV protection on them, because it is possible to change the color of the coating.
Solvent content reduces very little the strength of this type of flooring, and also these floors are more resistant to oil contamination on concrete.
Their advantages over water-based epoxy systems usually include the following:
Greater durability and efficiency
More tolerant to petroleum contamination in concrete surfaces, making them ideal for garages and underground car parks
They have a glossy finish
Therefore, this type of epoxy flooring is considered one of the best solutions available on the market. These coatings are also the most numerous on the market. However, this comes with a compromise: the solvent is VOC - a volatile organic compound that will create potentially harmful fumes while the coating is being applied and for several days thereafter. With the entry of new regulations into the EU and America, it is possible for consumers to start looking for greener alternatives.