Application of polyurethane coatings

Polyurethane flooring installation

Polyurethane coating

How to apply polyurethane coating?

Polyurethane flooring installation

The method of applying the polyurethane coating depends on the selected urethane flooring system.

In general, the method of applying polyurethane resin is no different from any other polymer coating, when installing an industrial floor in a car wash or a hundred.

Differences can be: in the time of working with resin, in the installation of polymer floors, in the timing of polymerization, air temperature for the possibility of applying the material, air and concrete humidity, etc.

Always refer to the Material Data Sheets if you are applying polyurethane coatings yourself or using experienced and qualified contractors .

 

Application of polyurethane coatings for the food industry

There are two types of polyurethane coatings

• Thin layer polyurethane coatings.

• Thick-layer polyurethane coatings.

Surface preparation for all types of coatings

The first thing to start with is understanding what is the humidity of the concrete base?

• For polymer floors, there is a criterion, the moisture content of concrete is not more than 4%.

• Usually, such residual moisture occurs after 28 days of concrete maturation, at a moderate air temperature of 10-15 C.

• The moisture content of concrete is checked using special equipment, a moisture meter or the old-fashioned way, using a film that is tightly laid on the concrete floor, sealed around the perimeter with adhesive tape. A day later, if you observe an accumulation of steam under the film, then there is still a lot of moisture.

• Also, it is required to pay attention to the presence of a waterproofing coating under the concrete floor, in case of a high level of groundwater.

• Moisture, which will rise through the capillaries and micropores of concrete, will contribute to the delamination of polymer coatings.

• There is an option that speeds up the process of applying polyurethane resins to fresh concrete, this is the use of special primers. There is no need to wait a month, but the cost per square meter of coverage will be higher.

 

Moisture measurement in concrete floors

Second, high-quality mechanical preparation of concrete.

• This can be surface treatment with a grinder , milling machine, shot blasting machine or hand grinder.

• The quality of the preparation of the concrete floor is one of the important aspects in the installation of polymer floors. 

• The adhesion of the polyurethane coating to the concrete base depends on this, respectively, and the service life without delamination of the coating.

 

Third, maximum dust removal and surface cleaning.

• Poor quality of cleaning concrete dust will reduce adhesive performance, even in the presence of a primer layer.

• Industrial vacuum cleaners and abrasive blasting machines must be used.

Application of thin-layer coatings

Padding

• Everything is simple here, we apply a primer to the concrete floor with a spatula, roller, scraper. Primer for polyurethane floors, can be epoxy and polyurethane.

• The primer strengthens, removes dust from the concrete base, seals the micropores of concrete, and increases the adhesion force of the polymer coating.

• The average consumption of primers is: 0.3-0.5 kg/m2.

 

Priming of industrial concrete floors

Application of the base carrier layer

• On the primed base, apply the first layer of polyurethane coating. A day later, a second layer is applied.

• Material consumption depends on the density of the polymer resin: 1-2.5 kg/m2.

• Average thickness of thin layer coating: 1-2 mm.

 

Thin-layer polyurethane outdoor flooring

Application of the final polyurethane coating

At the end, as a rule, a finishing polyurethane varnish is applied, which has high rates of wear resistance to mechanical stress and UV resistance. 

Since the sun's rays have a negative effect on all types of polymer floors, without protection.

 

Application of thick coatings

Padding

Primer for highly filled PU systems, can be liquid two-component or three-component, with the addition of mineral filler.

 

Application of the base carrier layer

• Polyurethane resin, can be with or without filler, depending on the tasks of surface smoothness or temperature resistance of floors.

• Self-leveling polyurethane coatings, without filler, are usually applied in 1-2 coats.

• Polyurethane-cement coatings are pulled out with a squeegee or spatula, immediately in one layer, from 3 to 12 mm.

• Thickness of thick layer urethane coatings: 2-12 mm.

 

Application of the final protective coating

• Depending on the floor coating system and the technical specifications, the final polyurethane varnish is applied as needed.

• For example, in an open parking lot or in a warehouse where there are windows, a UV-resistant varnish should always be applied.

• Indoors, not necessarily, but here additional protective properties for the floor may be needed, under high intense mechanical loads.