Demand for Performance and Sustainability Driving Floor Coating Resin Development

By Cynthia Challener

Most flooring-whether wood, concrete, tile, or linoleum-requires protection from wear, and for many industrial applications, exposure to harsh environments. Coatings play a critical role in imparting that needed level of protection, and today, building owners (residen­tial, commercial, industrial) and applicators (OEM floor finishers, professional contractors, maintenance per­sonnel, DIY homeowners) are looking for cost-effective, sustainable coatings that are easy to use and provide a durable finish.

Resin manufacturers are responding with reasonably priced UV-cure oligomers for both factory and onsite applied coatings, and water-based, low odor, one-component systems for field-applied applications. The market for floor coatings for wood substrates in the United States totaled $510 million in 2011, according to Steven Nerlfi, a principal consultant with market research firm Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney (KNG).

Water-based coatings (13-15 million gallons) account for 80% of that market and are growing at four percent per year, largely at the expense of sol­vent-based systems, but also due to design trends for finished wood (versus rugs, PVC sheet, tile goods, and other surfaces). Leading suppliers of polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) for wood floor coatings, accord­ing to Nerlfi, include Arkema, Bayer, Dow Chemical, DSM, EPS, Lubrizol, and Reichhold.