Fast-Cure Amine Technologies Enable Rapid Return to Service in Floor Coatings

Concrete is one of the most used construction materials due to its strength, durability, resilience, safety, and low cost. In the flooring applications, demand for concrete for interior and exterior use in residential and commercial settings is growing significantly thanks to the strong construction market around the globe. Coatings for concrete floor not only protect concrete from wear, deterioration, and contamination, but also enhance the physical performance, provide chemical resistance, and improve aesthetics. Today, architects, specifiers, and end-users can select from a broad range of technologies and finishes to protect and enhance the aesthetics of the concrete floor. Each technology or finish brings specific benefits and introduces trade offs in other areas. Polymer technology is among the most popular choices for concrete flooring and include thermoset chemistries such as amine-cured epoxy, urethane, urea, methacrylate, and acrylic. The preferred option depends on the type of application and the required performance properties. High performance floor installation using polymer technology requires at least two stages (primer and topcoat), and preferably three (including a mid coat). With each stage needing time to cure, fast-cure speed to reduce the total installation time translates into minimum downtime and fast return to service. This has been a key market driver across the coating industry.