Trowelled floorings:
These are heavily filled compositions, which can be applied by trowel to a thickness of about 5-6 mm. They provide a combination of high mechanical strength, chemical resistance and thus suitable for heavy duty service e.g. in areas subjected to abrasion by vehicles, fork-lift trucks, drums etc. Where product spillage is also problem.
The choice and quantity of fillers used is very important to formulate goods quality floor. The addition of fillers provides the mechanical strength in the flooring. The epoxy resin binder, serves to bond these filler particles together and provides chemical resistance. It is essential, that all the filler particles are wetted by the binder resin, leaving no voids or porous surface. These requirements are achieved by using fillers with the suitable particle size grading and resin of appropriate viscosity and setting time.
The performance of the floor is also influenced by the filler: binder ratio and the type of filler, since the quality of filler vary in terms of hardness, abrasion resistance etc. As also the application properties of the flooring, its trowel ability, are dependent on the quality of fillers as well as on the quantity of fillers. These fillers should be free from water content, moisture content for better performance.
Since, the cost of the floor is very important and dependent on the quality, quantity and particle size, the widely used filler fort this purpose is Silica Sand with different particle size grading. The filler: binder ratio vary from the flooring properties expectations, which may be in the range of 5:1 to 6:1, affecting the mechanical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength, elongation and impact resistance. However, chemical resistance properties only can be achieved by decreasing the filler.
Preparation of Trowelling Mix:
The proper mixing of the binder and filler is essential to achieve good results. The resin binder and the curing agent, are supplied in separate packs, to be weighted in appropriate proportion, as recommended by the manufacturer. They are thoroughly mixed together and then this binder is mixed with the filler. Rotating drum mixers with fixed blades have been mixing, in specified working time, to be laid down on the floor.
Application of trowelling compound:
The application of a trowelling floor compound to a suitably prepared substrate involves number of stages,
- Primer coat-Resin binder plus curing agent
- Trowelling mix-Resin binder plus curing agent plus filler
- Sealer coat or Topcoat-Resin binder plus curing agent
The trowelled floors should be opened for use, only after seven days, after achieving optimum properties. Since during this period cross linking mechanism is nearby completed.
Self-levelling floorings:
The epoxy resins, self-levelling composition are recommended in the areas which are not subjected to a severe degree of mechanical wear. They can be formulated to provide a high level of chemical resistance; they can be also used for highly decorative appearance.
- Self-levelling flooring are relatively lightly filled and normally applied in film thickness of about 2 mm.
- The all-round, easy to clean, self-levelling epoxy flooring system with a wide range of design options in terms of colour and surface structure.
- System thickness: approx. 2 to 4 mm
Self-levelling floorings:
The building and construction activities have been increased to a great extent, as also High-rise towers, shopping malls, supermarkets, car show rooms, hospital complexes are coming up everywhere. Self-levelling flooring can be used mainly in following areas.
- Underground car parking of housing complexes
- High-rise building car parking
- Deck and ramp in car parking areas
- Factories and Industrial workshops
- Pharmaceutical Industries
- Swimming pool areas
- Hospitals, massage parlours, Hotels
- Shopping complexes, super malls, walking areas
- Cold storages, warehouses, store rooms, play grounds etc