The More Durable, Better Looking Epoxy Floor Alternative
Polyaspartic polyureas are fairly new in the marketplace and have great potential for decorative concrete because their many unique qualities differentiate them from other coatings on the market. Contractors are currently using them as clear coats over finishes such as stamped, stained, colored, and stenciled concrete and pigmented coatings, including decorative media. There is also some experimentation with applications on exterior slab-on-grade decorative work.
History
Aspartic esters were invented and patented by Bayer Corporation in the 1990s. Aspartic resins followed, and the manufacturer found that very dense and shiny films could form, leading to the creation of polyaspartic aliphatic polyureas. Now several companies have introduced formulations that contractors can use commercially. Their formulations share several common properties, but there are also benefits and cautions unique to each product on the market. Polyureas are 2-component materials. The system works when a resin is mixed with a catalyst, usually a polyisocyanate, which causes a reaction and develops a polymer compound.Remarkable properties
The benefits of a polyaspartic floor coating put traditional epoxy floors to shame. Not only are they of higher quality, longer-lasting, and way more damage resistant, but polyaspartic/polyurea floors cure in a fraction of the time it takes an epoxy floor to cure. The latest coating technology has brought many new floor coating chemicals with remarkable features compared to traditional materials:- Depending on the product, they can be applied at temperatures as low as -30°F and as high as 140°F, depending on the product. In hot and cold climates, contractors can install them all year long.
- When cured, they can tolerate temperatures as high as 350°F.
- They are UV light stable, providing “water clear” finishes.
- Polyureas have much greater abrasion and impact resistance than epoxy or urethane coatings.
- They do not blush or whiten.
- Curing is quick, and work can be turned over to owners for use within a couple of hours after application.
- High ambient humidity does not restrict the application, although some products set more quickly in high humidity.
- Polyureas have superior wetting and penetrating characteristics, which means they form exceptional bonds to concrete. They don’t stain, resist fat and oil penetration, and protect concrete from mild acids.