Before diving into the world of epoxy floor coatings, it’s crucial to understand the key components and considerations that will ensure you make the right choice for your project. From selecting the appropriate primary film-forming substances to choosing the right curing agents and modifiers, each element plays a vital role in achieving a durable and high-quality finish. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential factors to keep in mind before purchasing epoxy floor coating materials.
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Epoxy Floor Coating materials consist of various substances mixed, dissolved, and dispersed through production processes. Based on the different effects of each component, Epoxy Floor Coating can generally be divided into primary film-forming substances, secondary film-forming substances, and auxiliary film-forming substances.
a. Good alkali resistance.
b. Film formation at room temperature.
c. Good water and weather resistance.
d. Wide material sources, abundant resources, and low cost.
The primary base material of floor paint is mainly synthetic resin, which is a necessary component in floor paint construction:
(1) Polyurethane Resin: Composed of isocyanate with polyester, polyether, epoxy resin, castor oil, or its derivatives (oxidized polymers, glycerolysis products), and hydroxyl-containing thermoplastic polymers (such as polyacrylate resin containing B-hydroxyethyl, hydroxy-containing chlorovinyl copolymer resin), and butyl acetate cellulose, forming various polyurethane coatings. For example, TDI or MDI with polyether is the main base material for elastic floor coatings; HDI with B-hydroxyethyl polyacrylate resin is the base material for high-grade floor coatings.
(2) Epoxy Resin: When used in floor coatings, low molecular weight polyamide resin is often chosen for curing. Currently, epoxy resin is used as a seamless floor coating material and the main base material for water-based exterior wall paint.
Secondary film-forming substances are also key components in forming the film but cannot form the film alone without primary film-forming substances. This component is the pigment used in the paint. Adding pigments to the paint not only improves the film’s performance but also increases the variety of paints.
Auxiliary film-forming substances do not form the film themselves or are not the main components of the film, but they significantly impact the film formation process (application process) or play auxiliary roles in the film’s function. They mainly include solvents and auxiliary materials:
(1) Solvents: Solvents are evaporative liquids that dissolve film-forming substances, reducing paint viscosity to meet application requirements, but they affect the quality and cost of film formation.
(2) Auxiliary Materials: Besides the film-forming substances, pigments, and solvents, auxiliary materials are often used to improve performance. Many auxiliary materials are used in paints, each with specific strengths, but in small quantities, typically a few percent or less. Despite the small amounts, they have a significant impact. Based on their functions, they can be divided into driers, plasticizers, wetting agents, UV absorbers, etc., with driers and plasticizers being more commonly used.
Epoxy resins are typically used with additives to gain application value. Additives can be selected based on different purposes, with common ones being curing agents, modifiers, fillers, diluents, and others. Curing agents are essential additives, as epoxy resins cannot cure without them. Due to varying performance requirements, there are different requirements for epoxy resins, curing agents, modifiers, fillers, and diluents.
One) Based on Purpose:
Two) Based on Mechanical Strength:
Three) Based on Operational Requirements:
SiOResin offers a variety of high-quality water-based epoxy resins to meet different application needs. Please contact our engineers anytime for the best solutions.
Types of Curing Agents: Common curing agents for epoxy resins include aliphatic amines, cycloaliphatic amines, aromatic amines, polyamides, anhydrides, resins, tertiary amines, and UV or light-induced curing agents.
Dosage of Curing Agents:
Principles for Choosing Curing Agents:
Modifiers improve the flexibility, shear strength, bending strength, impact resistance, and insulation performance of epoxy resins. Common modifiers and their characteristics include:
The amount of modifiers varies, generally between 50-300%. The higher the amount, the greater the flexibility, but the lower the heat deformation temperature of the resin product.
Fillers improve the properties of the product, enhance heat dissipation during resin curing, reduce epoxy resin usage, and lower costs. Depending on the application, different fillers can be chosen, preferably less than 100 mesh in size. Common fillers include:
Adding 27-35% of oxides such as P, As, Sb, Bi, Ge, Sn, Pb in resin can maintain adhesion under high heat and pressure.
Diluents reduce viscosity and improve resin permeability, classified into inert and reactive types, generally not exceeding 30% usage. Common diluents include:
Before adding curing agents, all materials such as resins, curing agents, fillers, modifiers, and diluents must be inspected for:
In addition to water-based epoxy resins and polyurethanes, SiOResin offers various curing agents and modifiers. We welcome customers to contact us anytime for consultation.
Key points to note in epoxy floor construction include:
SiOResin provides comprehensive guidance on the entire process, ensuring top-notch results for your projects.
Depending on the environment, either smooth or textured finishes may be suitable for your epoxy floor. Smooth finishes are ideal for clean rooms and areas where hygiene is critical. Textured finishes provide additional slip resistance, making them suitable for industrial and commercial settings with high foot traffic or machinery movement.
We have created this useful guide to help you choose the right resin for different market applications. Want to find the perfect resin to your formulations?
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Resin is a highly viscous chemical compound that when cured under certain conditions becomes irreversibly hard.
True resin is an organic substance sourced from the bark of trees, especially pines, spruce, and firs. These are soluble in various organic liquids, except water.
Natural resins are mainly used for the manufacture of varnishes, adhesives, food glazing agents, incense, and perfumes.
For most of the industrial applications today, however, synthetic resins are used that have several classes depending on how they are manufactured (by esterification and/or polymerization of organic compounds).
Thus, choosing the right resin for a particular application becomes a pivotal decision for the manufacturers, since there is no “one size fits all” solution. Specifying the correct resin for your application will ensure that your finished product meets its performance requirements.
Polyester resins are high-density polymers formed by the combination of polyhydric alcohols and dibasic organic acids. They are highly flexible, heat-resistant, flame-resistant, and chemical-resistant as well. Polyester resins are the least expensive of resin options and, therefore, are used to process large quantity products.
• Construction equipment • Aircraft components
• Auto body fillers • Marine components
• Fishing rods • Coatings
• Skis • Bottles
• Laminate • Decorative accessories
Polycarbonate resins are thermoplastic polymers mainly manufactured by polymerization of phosgene and bisphenol A.
They are transparent, impact-resistant, stain-resistant, heat-resistant, and feature excellent toughness and thermal dimensional stability.
Thus, polycarbonate resins are mainly used for applications that need to maintain their strength even in stressful conditions. They also have a high refractive index.
• Safety helmets • Ophthalmic lenses
• Security windows • Photography films
• Automotive headlamps • Skylights
• Motorcycle face shields and windscreens • Anti-vandal glazing
• Safety goggles • Metal replacements
Polyurethane resins are copolymers manufactured from polyol and isocyanate components. They are extremely versatile and can be used to manufacture a wide range of different products when combined with other resins.
They offer excellent adhesion to substrates. Other notable characteristics of polyurethane resins include high elasticity and a good balance of elongation and hardness.
• Surface coatings and sealants • Foam liners for clothing
• Insulation panels • Stretchable fabrics
• High-performance adhesives • Hard plastic components
• Elastomeric tires and wheels • Temporary implants
• Carpet underlay • Upholstery cushioning
Epoxy resins are thermoset polymers mainly developed by polymerization of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol-A.
They have extensive industrial and consumer applications, owing to their outstanding properties such as heat resistance, chemical resistance, electrical insulation, high adhesive strength, higher dimensional stability, and toughness.
• Structural adhesives • Fiber-reinforced plastics
The company is the world’s best Elastic Polyester Resins For Consumer Electronics Coatings supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
• Crash-resistant adhesives • Rigid foams
• High voltage insulator materials • Industrial coatings
• Paints • Thermal interface materials (TIMs)
• Primers and sealers • Aerospace and marine applications
Polystyrene resins are hydrocarbon polymers manufactured from the monomer styrene, a petroleum-derived aromatic liquid.
They have a high refractive index, good electrical insulation properties, and good dialectic strength with outstanding resistance to salts, acids, and alkalis.
Polystyrenes are clear, low-cost resins that are easy to manufacture.
• Disposable food service ware • Toys
• Instrumentation hosings • Gardening pots
• Cooling towers • Pipes
• Insulating panels • Laboratory ware
• Automotive instruments • Rubber
Phenolic resins, called by the tradename Bakelite, are thermoset polymers formed from a combination of phenol and formaldehyde.
Its properties include heat resistance, electrical resistance, chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, good dimensional stability, hardness, and durability.
Phenolic resins can be easily molded into a variety of shapes and complex structures, making them adaptable for use in 3D printers as well. Phenolic resin countertops present a great resistance to bacteria and fungi as well.
• Brake linings • Automotive ashtrays
• Cookware and stove handles • Adhesives for cement
• Resin impregnation • Motor brush holders
• Laminate • Bonded adhesives
• Electrical components • Molds
Silicone resins are three-dimensional cross-linked polymers often formed with the less reactive tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) or ethyl polysilicate and several disiloxanes.
They form hard films with excellent weathering resistance, heat resistance, water repellency, oxidative stability, and dielectric properties. They also display low surface tension, and retention of elasticity, even at low temperatures.
• Encapsulated resins •Wire varnishes for high-performance electric motors and generators
• Bakeware • Defoamers
• Fireplace inserts • Rubber
• Laminating and molding • Silicone enamels and paints
• Protective coating resins • Water-resistant applications
Acrylic resins are transparent thermoplastics formed from acrylic acid, cyanoacrylic acid, methacrylic acid or other related compounds.
They have good tensile strength with UV resistance, weather resistance, water resistance, and impact resistance properties. Due to their excellent weatherability as coating materials, they are extensively used for automotive, plastic, and architectural coatings.
• Adhesives • Architectural wall paints/masonry
• Structural and decorative panels • Translucent tiles
• Elastomers • Tooth restorations
• Industrial and architectural coatings • Finishing varnishes
• Signs • Marine paints
Polypropylene resins are colorless, low-density polymers that don’t contain bisphenol-A. They have excellent thermoforming and injection molding properties.
Since they have good heat resistance and chemical resistance, they can be sterilized and, thus, are often used for making medical grade equipment, including disposable syringes, petri dishes etc. Polypropylene resins are easily processed and moldable.
• Toys • Fibers and filaments
• Plastic furniture • Coatings
• Electronic components • RSpecimen bottles
• Medical vials and syringes • Disposable food service ware
• Pipe and production tubing •Packaging for products
Polyethylene resins are the most common type of resins, commercially produced with a wide range of specifications. They can be categorized into low density (LDPE), high density (HDPE), and ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW-PE) groups.
Polyethylene resins have a high degree of flexibility. They also have excellent moisture resistance, chemical resistance, and steam resistance.
• Packaging for laminates and films • Toys
• Food packaging • Molds
• Containers • Garbage containers
• Cable insulation • Pipes and fittings
• Coatings • Medical devices
When choosing the right resin for your application, clearly understand the physical requirements of the product, including environmental conditions, potential stressors, chemical exposure, and its expected service life.
These are the most crucial factors in creating the perfect product design.
Different resin classes have different values of tensile strength, durability, flexural modulus, elongation, and resistance to heat, chemicals, corrosion, moisture, impact, etc.
So, the type of resin you choose for your application largely depends on the desired application outcome.
Will the parts be exposed to chemicals? Will they be exposed to extreme temperatures? Is particular or transparency required? How string the part should be? Does it need to be flexible or elastic? Will it be able to withstand impact?
Resins also fall into different grades, including commodity resin grade, engineering resin grade, and specialty/high-performance resin grade.
- Commodity resin grades are inexpensive plastics typically produced at a high volume. Due to their low cost, they are used for making common consumer goods where mechanical strength doesn’t matter much.
- Engineering Resin grades have better mechanical and thermal properties than commodity resins. They offer good resistance to chemicals, high temperatures and corrosion. They are commonly used as a potential alternative for metal parts.
- Specialty/High-Performance Resin Grades are extremely strong, tough and dimensionally stable. They have excellent chemical resistance, radiation resistance, long term thermal stability and good mechanical properties. Thus, they can be used for extremely demanding and critical use applications, like surgical instruments and coal boilers.
The choice of resin also depends on its cost and quality.
While this guide gives you a general overview of which resin type is suitable for which application, the ultimate decision comes down to balancing the considerations that are most critical to product design.
How does your budget balance against your performance needs? How does your aesthetic goals balance against the need for durability and strength?
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