Known for its durability, MMA makes a great base chemistry for flooring and coating systems. The two largest pros for MMA are its ability to cure 100 per cent in one hour and down to -26 C (-15 F) or up to 38 C (100 F) as MMA is not temperature dependent. It is also known for being UV stable, which means it can be installed outdoors and will not yellow over time.
The two main cons of MMA are it has a relatively higher material price compared to epoxy. The second is it gives off an odour during installation. It has been described as a sharp, fruity aroma or one that is like a nail salon. Odours need to be managed and considered during any MMA project but is not usually a problem when proper ventilation methods are implemented.
Typically, the advantages of MMA chemistries listed above and its ability to accommodate recoating without mechanical preparation years later, can offset the higher costs of installation and managing the fast cure and stronger odours. One thing to keep in mind is no resinous system is odourless. Some systems just have less odour than others. MMA contractors are typically highly skilled installers and receive special training to be able to mitigate the odours with ventilation and to work with a shorter pot life that still allows for an excellent installation that can still cure in one hour.
- Urethanes
Urethane coatings are typically applied as thin film coatings and as the final topcoat or seal coat to other flooring systems. Urethanes are most commonly created by reacting isocyanates with polyols. Other than floor coatings, urethane chemistry can be used in direct metal paint, truck bed, or tank linings, and generic waterproofing.
Urethanes for flooring topcoats are known for their high abrasion/chemical resistance and UV stability. Most urethanes see their best usage in large, high traffic areas or over top of an epoxy or hybrid system. The downside to urethanes is their sensitivity to moisture and temperature fluctuation. It must be installed within a certain temperature range. Also, similar to epoxies, urethanes have a longer curing time—varying between eight and 24 hours—which varies by manufacturer as well.
- Polyaspartics
Polyaspartics, which are similar to polyurethanes, are relatively new to the coatings market compared to other systems with their updated chemistry. Other than flooring, they are also used in spray-applied wall coatings and tank linings.
Manufacturers vary in opinion on typical uses for polyaspartics as a flooring material. They are typically substrate moisture sensitive, and most are used as broadcast coats or topcoats/finish coats in hybrid systems. Polyaspartics are great topcoats due to their fast cure times and the fact they are UV stable. They also cure very hard, which means they may not accept recoats later without aggressive mechanical preparation; this can vary slightly by manufacturer as well.
- Urethane Cement
Urethane cement, also known as cementitious urethane, is exactly as it sounds—a urethane that is modified with cement. This chemistry has become a mainstay in resinous flooring due to its toughness. Two of its main strengths are its ability to withstand thermal shock of up to 115.5 C (240 F) at its maximum exposure temperature, and its moisture resistance, which can go up to 9 kg/93 m2/24 hr (20 lbs/1000 sf/24 hr) by calcium chloride testing or 99 per cent RH by RH in-situ probe testing.
