Degafloor vs Epoxies & Polyurethanes
Degafloor has made a conscious decision, based on years of experience and expertise, to focus our business on the supply of MMA (methyl methacrylate) resin flooring only. By using MMA resins, we are able to meet the vast majority of customer needs, regardless of industry, something that would not be possible if we were solely supplying Epoxy or Polyurethane flooring products.
We have been able to focus on just one resin type due to the unique benefits of MMA resin technology in relation to epoxy and polyurethane resins.
Cure Times.
All Degafloor systems cure both physically and chemically within just 2 hours of installation. Whereas industry leading Epoxies and Polyurethanes typically reach physical cure 12 - 48 hours after installation with full chemical cure taking between 7 and 10 days.
It should be noted that whilst you can walk on an epoxy or polyurethane floor when it has reached physical cure, these systems should not be subjected to full operational use until full chemical cure is achieved.
Installation Temperature.
Degafloor can be installed at temperatures down to -30°C without any detrimental affect on cure time. The same cannot be said for Epoxies and Polyurethanes. These products should not be installed at temperatures of less than 5-10°C, with optimal cure occurring at approx. 20°C.
The speed of cure for epoxy or polyurethane installations is greatly affected by temperature. The higher the temperature, the faster the cure (please note most epoxy and polyurethane specification sheets quote cure times at 20°C). However, if epoxies and polyurethanes are exposed to temperatures below 5°C during the curing process, there is a high probability that the product will fail to cure altogether!
Speed of Installation.
Most Degafloor and epoxy systems are flow applied, whilst most polyurethane systems are trowel applied. Flow applied systems are significantly faster to install than trowel applied systems and as the process is less labour intensive a higher quality finish, free of trowel marks is often achievable.
Additionally and due to 2 hour cure time of Degafloor, there is no real downtime between applications. However, epoxies and polyurethanes need at least 4 - 8 hours to cure between applications, resulting in significantly longer installation periods.
Bonding Technology.
MMA resins are thermoplastics which achieve a chemical bond between each installation layer, resulting in a monolithic finish. In reality, each new layer chemically fuses to the previous layer (or existing subfloor) creating an unbreakable bond.
Epoxy and polyurethane resins are thermosetting and achieve only a mechanical bond between installation layers. In reality each new layer 'sticks' to the previous layer (or existing subfloor).
Slip Resistance.
Degafloor offers a range of solutions to meet varying slip resistance requirements. This is especially true of industrial environments, where outstanding performance is required.
The Degafloor FB system utilises quartz aggregate which stays suspended at the top surface of the system creating a consistent and textured finish that delivers marketing leading performance.
Most polyurethane systems are trowel applied and rely on the installer leaving part of the aggregate within the resin mix 'exposed' to create slip resistance. This method often results in an inconsistent surface finish and together with early wear can result in unsatisfactory slip resistance.
Durability.
MMA resins are totally UV resistant and do not become brittle with age. Many polyurethane resins are not UV resistant creating long-term performance issues (including discolouration). Additionally, some epoxy formulations utilise plasticisers that can wash out over time creating a brittle finish.
Temperature Resistance.
| Product | Temp Resistance |
|---|---|
| Epoxy | Up to 60°C |
| Degafloor | Up to 80°C |
| Polyurethane | Up to 120°C |
Degafloor offers excellent temperature resistance at a thickness of just 4mm. However, polyurethane resins can withstand temperatures of up to 120°C when installed at a thickness of 9mm.
Based on our experience it is rare that a customer actually needs a floor that can resist high temperatures, often finding that small changes in operating procedures avoids high temperature liquids coming into contact with the floor.
There are many other reasons why we believe Degafloor offers a better solution than epoxy or polyurethane flooring systems and we would be happy to discuss these at your convenience by phone or during a lunchtime technical seminar.
call:+44 (0) 1778 342545 | email: info@degafloor.com