Floor coatings form an integral part of the construction industry and are utilized in a wide range of floor coating applications. Floor coatings, especially concrete floor coatings, are a very important part of buildings. The key purpose of such coatings is the protection of slabs from deterioration, shocks, and contamination. In addition, these coatings also provide benefits such as chemical resistance, aesthetics, better physical performance, skid-free surface, and easy maintenance.
TMR, a market intelligence company, discusses the three major types of concrete floor coatings along with highlighting their key qualities and uses within a number of application areas. The three major types of concrete floor coatings are epoxy-based concrete floor coatings, polyaspartics-based concrete floor coatings, and others including polyurethane, etc.
TMR, a market intelligence company, discusses the three major types of concrete floor coatings along with highlighting their key qualities and uses within a number of application areas. The three major types of concrete floor coatings are epoxy-based concrete floor coatings, polyaspartics-based concrete floor coatings, and others including polyurethane, etc.
- Epoxy-Based Concrete Floor Coatings: Epoxy coatings are extremely durable in nature and can be utilized for a number of purposes ranging from durable paints to strong adhesives, and coatings for metals and floors. These coatings are the most popular type of concrete floor coatings and are made via a chemical reaction utilizing a polymer hardener and an epoxide resin. The reaction of these two chemicals may take up to a few hours and helps in turning the liquid epoxy coating into an extremely durable and strong solid. Epoxy coatings are used within composite materials such as fiberglass and carbon fiber, industrial manufacturing plants, and a number of automotive, electrical, and marine applications. Epoxy coatings are easy to apply and can be applied quickly as well and are extensively used in applications such as marine and automotive, container and metal can coatings, flooring applications, etc.
- Polyaspartics-Based Concrete Floor Coatings: These types of coatings, as per their proponents, may be applied at a variety of temperatures and comprise UV and super stain resistance. They are able to easily bond to almost all concrete surfaces and are able to bridge in small cracks owing to their flexibility. These coatings are primarily used in garage floors, commercial floors, countertop sealers, dyed flooring, etc. The major use of these coatings is within exterior structures such as bridges, where they are used to prevent corrosion. For example , at the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge, which is a 7-mile crossing of the bay of San Francisco, each of the concrete piles and beams have three-part coatings of a polyaspartic top, an epoxy sealant, and a polyuria primer in order to prevent the bridge from UV degradation and for preventing barnacle growth.
- Polyurethane: Polyurethane is a thermosetting polymer and a high-performance coating. These coatings have greater wear resistance as compared to epoxy-based concrete floor coatings. Polyurethane also has superior performance in terms of chemical and abrasion resistance. It is UV-stable and thus doesn’t turn yellow over time, unlike epoxy coatings. Even though polyurethane isn’t as consistent as epoxy coatings, it has great scratch resistance and tolerance for high temperatures. Polyurethane is applied to enhance the lifespan and appearance of products. It is utilized within the construction industry within concrete supports and building floors, which are spray coated for making them durable and economical to maintain. Polyurethane is also utilized in the aerospace industry for protecting external aircraft parts against extreme temperatures.
