Epoxy vs Polyurethane Floor Coatings

In the industrial floor coatings business, even though epoxies and polyurethanes are both thermosetting polymers, their disparities in capacity and execution are immense. For concrete floor covering applications, the strongest, longest-enduring covering systems ordinarily incorporate the utilization of both epoxy and polyurethane. Both of these materials carry their own qualities and strengths and both are fit for various applications.

They do, also, share some key attributes – both Epoxy and PU floor arrangements are tough, hardwearing, and give waterproofing properties, hence shielding your concrete floor from damage and dust. Those are the similitudes, yet what are the differences between the two?

1. Epoxy Coatings:

There are various diverse epoxy floor coatings available today, with differing price ranges. In basic terms, a usual two-pack epoxy paint covering contains a resin part and a hardener part. These two parts are combined thoroughly, applied to the concrete floor, and permitted to fix.

There are unquestionably various kinds of epoxy coatings planned to address different types of results desired based on performance. These range from self-leveling epoxies to impervious epoxies, to chemical-resistant epoxies, to quick setting epoxies, and so forth.

They additionally take into account the simplicity of utilization, unique bonding attributes, and VOC contemplations. Epoxy paint bonds very well to appropriately arranged cement and can sometimes be utilized as a resurfacing agent for old or damaged concrete that needs a new garage floor surface.

The perfect epoxy formulations are 100% solids and accommodate an amazingly hard, thick, and impervious to impact surface. This self-leveling thickness adds to filling in the little cracks and blemishes of the floor just as it provides protection. It likewise functions admirably against hot tire pick-up, scratching, and wear from abrasions.

In spite of the fact that some epoxy formulas contain U.V. inhibitors, they will inevitably turn yellow or amber as the flooring industry calls it when presented to daylight for a long time span. This is an interesting point while picking a garage floor finish.

Advantages of Epoxy floor coatings:

1.Adhering to Concrete:

Given that the concrete substrate is appropriately prepared to get a covering, epoxies are phenomenal for precisely bonding with the concrete. This makes a well-adhered system base that will permit consequent build and topcoats.

A total covering system can only work as well as its inceptive bond to the concrete substrate. Obviously, concrete preparation is a significant piece of building up an appropriate bond. We prescribe concrete arrangement by mechanical methods, for example, diamond crushing or grating shot blasting techniques.

2. Build/Thickness:

Epoxy build coats are usually installed at 8 to 15 mils for every application. This thickness permits the covering to synthetically cling to the epoxy primer, and is sufficiently thick to self-level and fill minor concrete flaws and cracks.

Contingent upon the ideal execution prerequisites and state of the concrete, more build coat applications might be required. After being cured, the epoxy build coats give a hard and tough surface.

3. Installation and Performance:

After being cured, the epoxy paint coats give a hard, tough surface with great impact resistance. Epoxies are genuinely simple to install, show adequate working time, and are decently savvy when contrasted with other industrial flooring alternatives.

2.Polyurethane floor coatings:

Just like epoxy, polyurethane is a thermosetting polymer also and is viewed as a high-performance covering. It is ordinarily known as urethane for short, however, that it is, in fact, erroneous and there is really a major distinction among polyurethane and urethane.

On the off chance that somebody is publicizing a urethane covering, it is really polyurethane. Of the various formulations accessible, aliphatic polyurethane paint is the ideal decision for garage floors. In spite of the fact that they are roughly 60% to 70% solids contingent upon the producer, a polyurethane covering is just around 2 to 3 mils in thickness and can’t be balanced similarly as with epoxy. Try not to let the thinner dry film thickness fool you. Be that as it may, aliphatic polyurethane coatings has more adaptability than epoxy paint coat and it is this adaptability that guides in absorbing impacts better.

Benefits of polyurethane floor coatings:

1. UV Stability:

Polyurethanes show astounding UV-obstruction. At the point when utilized as a top coat over epoxy, they shield the basic epoxy from yellowing after some time.

2. Chemical Resistance:

Polyurethanes are impervious to a more extensive territory and concentrations of harsh chemicals. Furthermore, they offer incredible protection from staining because of hot or cold tires.

3. Expanded Impact and Abrasion Resistance:

Polyurethanes show amazing impact and erosion resistance, giving up to 4 times longer life than uncoated epoxy floors.

4. Finishes:

Polyurethane coating finishes can go from silk to semi-gloss to high-gloss. Discretionary wear and safety substances can be joined into the topcoat surface.

Conclusion:

Despite the fact that polyurethane paint has numerous favorable benefits over epoxy paint, it doesn’t bond well with concrete and its meager dry film thickness won’t function admirably as a self-leveling covering to fill in little breaks and divots in the surface. Another thought is that most polyurethanes are solvent-based, which means they can contain high VOC’s and might need a respirator to apply.

So, what floor coating should you choose-polyurethane floor coatings or epoxy floor coatings? Generally speaking, it is accepted that you will get the most extreme execution by utilizing both polyurethane and epoxy together for your floor covering.

Regardless of whether you are applying the covering yourself or employing an expert, epoxy is best utilized for working up the thickness of your floor covering, followed by a polyurethane clear coat to secure it. It will help shield the epoxy from yellowing and it will accommodate for a longer wearing time and more impervious scratch surface.

In the event that you would prefer not to stress over yellowing, you can generally utilize a coloured polyurethane as a colour coat before the clear coat. Polyurethane is likewise a superior medium than epoxy to blend in slip-resistant aggregate in the event that you genuinely need a slip-resistant surface or need a strong coloured floor sans paint chips.

Another thing to consider is that most epoxy clear covers are not really perfectly clear as is polyurethane. Despite the fact that they have no shading, there is a slight yellowish-darker tint to the clear colour in epoxy. Except if you decide on a more silk finish, polyurethane coatings can give an exceptionally polished surface that provides your floor with depth.

So except if you are simply doing a one-coat epoxy covering for your flooring, a mix of epoxy and polyurethane is quite often the best response to get the most extreme consolidated advantage out of the two materials. The outcome is an elite floor covering that will face the rigours of a working facility for a considerable length of time to come.

This concludes the handy guide about the different advantages of epoxy coatings and polyurethane coatings. What it all boils down to is what use or result you want out of your floor coverings. Typically, Epoxy primers for attaching the framework to concrete, epoxy build coats for all-out system build/thickness, and polyurethane topcoats for upgraded physical execution, impervious to chemicals, safety, and style. Ideally, the best floor coating is the one where you mix both epoxy paint and polyurethane paint together as this will give you the best of both worlds.

For further information, you may contact a representative of Grand Polycoats to answer your questions or just comment down below. We as the best industrial paint manufacturers are happy to answer anything.