02. Curing time
Long curing times mean longer disruptions to production and daily operations for businesses, while contractors face extended construction times and increased costs.
A big difference in curing time?
The two main families of seamless floors – thermoplastic and thermoset – have different properties that affect curing time. Thermoplastic coatings, such as Acrylicon floors, have a major advantage: they cure extremely quickly. Our floors are ready for use just 1-2 hours after installation and can be installed at temperatures as low as -25°C.
In contrast, thermoset floors, such as epoxy and PU, have significantly longer curing times. Although these floors may appear hard and ready after a few hours, it can take between 3 and 14 days before they are fully cured. Additionally, thermoset floors require temperatures above 10°C for installation.
If epoxy or PU floors are subjected to mechanical or chemical stress before they are sufficiently cured, this can disrupt the curing process. Mechanical and chemical stress that can affect the curing process in practical use includes driving, traffic, and cleaning. The result can be weakened floors, delamination, and other problems that reduce the lifespan. Another consequence may be failure to achieve the technical values stated in the technical data sheet. In addition, thermoset floors potentially emit harmful gases throughout the entire curing process, which can pose a health and safety risk as well as contamination of food products.
Product types and curing time
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- Epoxy
- 24 hours to dust-dry. 7-14 days to full cure
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- Polyurethane
- 3-5 hours to dust-dry. 3-5 days to full cure
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- Acrylic/MMA
- 1-2 hours to full cure
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- Acrylicon
- 1-2 hours to full cure
Seven good reasons to choose Acrylicon
