mercredi 31 juillet 2013

Selecting The Proper Abrasion Resistant Coatings For Concrete Floors

By Lela Perkins





Over the last three decades or so, protection of concrete floors has become quite a sophisticated process of some type of protective surfacing or coating. The main aim is to protect the slab from contamination, or provide added benefits such as ease of maintenance. No other surface is subjected to more abuse than floors in a building, irrespective of whether it is industrial or residential. This article examines how to choose the best abrasion resistant coatings for floors.



Floors are subjected to all types of abuse, ranging from chemical attack, impact, thermal shock and abrasion. Floors made from concrete are not designed to take such continual abuse. They are porous and tend to create dust due to abuse and wear. It is because of this reason that concrete floors require some sort of protection irrespective of where it is located. The problem occurs when it comes to determine the type of protective material to select from the various conditions.



Total floor protection should form a basis of floor protection, both old and new. The step by step process of getting a coating will give the building owner something to guide him in the selection. To facilitate the search for an ideal application for floor coating, a process that is very complete has to be observed. One should however bear in mind that in addition to choosing the coating, the system must also be complete on a basis of thickness, applications and aesthetics.



Concrete coatings can be classified by thickness, polymer type, appearance and finish. The process of selection can narrow the appearance requirements and thickness. However, the polymer type can be somewhat difficult and thus require assistance to compare performance and review data. Thousands of formulations exist for various polymer coatings to be used on concrete floors. Each one is quite different from the other.



Epoxies and polyurethanes are among the polymers that are most widely utilized. For each of the two, there is a variation of data and performance. For either thin film or high build coatings, urethanes are used due to their excellent wear and abrasion resistance, notable gloss retention together with good chemical and stain resistance. Some of such polymers exhibit excellent elastomeric properties and low permeability, making them a top choice for uses in waterproofing.



Formulations of epoxy used in coating floors are usually non volatile, have good chemical and abrasion resistance, good adhesion together with remarkable mechanical properties. Its applications include bonding adhesives, crack repair, concrete coatings, toppings and overlays. Of late, combinations and urethane/epoxy hybrids have provided polymer materials with outstanding thermal properties, stress relieving and impact resistance.



There are a number of abuse areas that dictate what coating a concrete floor needs. One is chemical exposure, with types of chemicals and exposure being very important. When it comes to chemical resistance, materials differ widely, making the identification of exposure quite important. Common spills and splashes are far less critical when compared to constant immersion.



Thermal shock or temperature fluctuation is a vital condition that must be put into consideration when choosing abrasion resistant coatings. Thermal shock like steam cleaning of the floor might lead to a loss of bond.









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