If you’re looking for a top coat that works well with epoxy, Polyaspartic Top Coat is a fantastic option for the epoxy patio. It is UV resistant, has improved adhesion between materials applied to its surface, and is abrasion resistant because of its polymer composition. In this article, we’ll look at the history of Polyaspartic, discuss how to use it, and provide some valuable tips for doing so.
What is Polyaspartic Top Coat?
Polyaspartic Top Coat is a flexible, long-lasting coating that may help protect your flooring in various ways. Polyaspartic coatings are structurally similar to polyurethane and epoxy coatings, but they dry quicker and have thicker films, allowing for faster hardening and curing.
Polyaspartic coatings have the benefit of being stain- and heat-resistant. Polyaspartic sealants are also available in various colors and may be used as a whole flooring system rather than simply a top coat.
What are Polyaspartic floor coatings -the science
The science behind this kind of flooring is pretty amazing. In a nutshell, Polyaspartic is an organic polymer formed by the reaction of two components – resin and isocyanate. The resin used in this instance is an amine-terminated polyether resin used to manufacture standard polyurethane.
The isocyanate component is where things get interesting. Isocyanates are highly reactive, low molecular weight compounds frequently used in producing coatings, elastomers, and car parts.
They can be either aromatic or aliphatic, and when an aliphatic isocyanate is used to create polyurea, the result is Polyaspartic aliphatic polyurea – or Polyaspartic. This unique material has a lot of excellent properties that make it ideal for use as a floor coating, including its durability, chemical resistance, and flexibility.
Short History of Polyaspartic
Bayer Material Science, among the world’s key chemical corporations, first launched Polyaspartic coatings in the early 1990s. This novel technology was first used as a protective steel coating to prevent corrosion on bridges and other harsh environment applications.
The distinct advantage of Polyaspartic is its fast cure time allowing for a rapid return to service. The chemistry of Polyaspartic is an aliphatic polyurea which gives it unmatched UV stability and hydrophobic properties.
These characteristics make it ideal for high-performance topcoats in various industries, including flooring, transportation, marine, and industrial equipment. In recent years, Polyaspartics have snowballed due to their excellent performance relative to other conventional coating technologies.
How are Polyaspartic floor coatings applied?
Below are some materials you’ll need, as well as some principles for applying the top coat and the process for applying Polyaspartic to the whole floor.
Materials:
- Epoxy floor coatings
- Polyaspartic top coat
- Squeegee
- Seal-coat brush
- Nap roller
- Denatured alcohol or acetone (optional)
- Painters Tape
Instructions: (top coat for epoxy)
- Vacuum the surface to be coated and cleaned with a solvent or adhesion promoter.
- Mix the Polyaspartic top coat according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Apply it to the epoxy floor using a squeegee, seal-coat brush, or nap roller.
- Dip-and-roll and ribbon-and-roll are the most frequent application techniques.
- If desired, add denatured alcohol or acetone to create wing craters and add color.
In this video, Josh Jones, surface preparation and coatings application specialist, demonstrates how to apply a Polyaspartic top coat using epoxy. The application instrument is a long bendable squeegee, and the squeegee style is selected to leave the proper quantity of Polyaspartic behind. He applies adequate pressure to smooth the blade, but not so much that it becomes unstable.
Josh Jones. (2021, November 7). How To: Polyaspartic Top Coat [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QyhH9EYz1I
The technique of using Polyaspartic coatings for the entire floor is the same as with most floor coatings; below are the fundamentals.
Instructions: (whole floor application)
- Eliminate all pollutants, oils, dust, etc., from the surface using diamond grinding sand, oil emulsifiers, and degreasers.
- Check the humidity level and consult with the manufacturer for product specifications. New concrete flooring should dry for 28 days before application.
- Fix any flaws in the surface with a sander, and fill in cracks with polyurea.
- Tape and prepare the edges, then mix and prime the coating. Apply a layer of 50/50 Polyaspartics using a notched squeegee. Begin by coating the edges first.
- Add vinyl chips or quartz sand to the wet coating.
- Apply subsequent layers of Polyaspartics, letting each layer dry before applying the next. The amount of coats depends on the product specifications.
- Apply a clear topcoat and cleaning agent after the final layer has dried completely.
What are the key advantages of Polyaspartic Top Coat?
Polyaspartic top coat has several advantages over other floor coatings, including:
- Quick cure time
- Excellent UV stability
- Hydrophobic properties
- Durability
- Chemical resistance
- Flexibility.
How long does a Polyaspartic coating take to dry?
The floor will dry in about 2-4 hours if the room temperature is 77° F or warmer, but it can take up to 6 or 8 hours when cooler. Allow traffic for at least six to eight hours before allowing light foot traffic again!
Can Polyaspartic coatings be used in cold weather?
Polyaspartics can be used in cold weather with few limitations. Most Polyaspartic coatings are UV stable and handle the lower temperatures well, allowing them to cure at higher rates even when it’s colder outside than expected for an application on your backyard patio!
Final words on Polyaspartic coating
Epoxy with a Polyaspartic top coat is an excellent way to protect your floor and extend its life. Epoxy flooring is strong and easy to maintain, but it can be susceptible to scratches and scuffs. A Polyaspartic top coat will help protect your floor from these potential damages.
Thanks for reading! I hope you found this information helpful. If you have any queries, please freely comment below. I’m always happy to help!
Have a great day!
Sources of Information
LATICRETE International. (n.d.). Concrete Coatings FAQ and Historical Facts – LATICRETE. Https://Se.Laticrete.Com/En. Retrieved August 21, 2022, from https://se.laticrete.com/en/solution-center/featured-solutions/resinous-flooring-and-decorative-coatings/about-polyaspartic-technology/concrete-coatings-faq
Palmer, B. (2018, February 20). INSTALLING POLYASPARTIC COATINGS. Https://Www.Concreteconstruction.Net/. Retrieved August 21, 2022, from https://www.concreteconstruction.net/how-to/site-prep/installing-polyaspartic-coatings_o
