What are Epoxy Coatings?
Epoxy is the cured end product of epoxy resins, as well as a colloquial name for the
polyepoxide functional group. Epoxy is also a common name for a type of strong adhesive
used for sticking things together and covering surfaces, typically two resins that need
to be mixed together before use.
Epoxy resins, also known as are a class of reactive prepolymers and
polymers which contain epoxide groups. Epoxy resins may be reacted (cross-linked)
either with themselves through catalytic homopolymerisation, or with a wide range of
co-reactants including polyfunctional amines, acids (and acid anhydrides), phenols,
alcohols, and thiols. These co-reactants are often referred to as hardeners or curatives,
and the cross-linking reaction is commonly referred to as curing. Reaction of
polyepoxides with themselves or with polyfunctional hardeners forms a thermosetting
polymer, often with strong mechanical properties as well as high temperature and
chemical resistance. Epoxy has a wide range of industrial applications, including metal
coatings, use in electronic and electrical components, high tension electrical
insulators, and structural adhesives as well as floor coatings.
We use a two-part epoxy 100% solids industrial grade epoxy for garage floors
chip/base coat. This product has superior adhesion due to its proprietary wicking
technology. It also allows for high MVE (Moisture Vapor Emissions) to be held back through the slab, up to 15 lbs. Sq. In.
Polyaspartics used as a chip/base coat do not allow for high MVE and will fail above
3 lbs. Sq. In. In which case an epoxy primer vapor barrier coat will be required prior to
the installation of the Polyaspartic.
This is why we use our two-part epoxy as the chip/base coat due to its superior
adhesion and ability to lock down high MVE and then the highly durable and flexible
Polyaspartic as our clear protective top coat. Translating into a superior garage floor coating finish.