Concrete is a cost-effective, easy-to-handle material that is widely used to provide high compressive strength, excellent durability and good fire resistance, amongst other properties.1 As a result, concrete is a common first choice as a construction material for large infrastructures, such as dams, bridges and roads, and for residential and commercial buildings, garages and basement floors. However, due to its porous structure, water, vapors and chemicals can easily penetrate and stain the concrete. Furthermore, the low tensile strength and rigid nature of concrete make it susceptible to cracks and creeps that progress over time.
Coating systems are necessary to protect and extend the durability of concrete substrates, especially in very harsh environments; coating systems can also deliver desired aesthetic finishes to concrete buildings and floors. Floor coating is a major segment of concrete coatings with different types of coating technologies being employed, such as acrylic, epoxy and polyurethane, to meet increasing high-performance requirements. In recent years, stricter regulations and increasing health and environmental concerns, especially for indoor floor applications, have driven demands for new low- and zero-volatile organic compound (VOC) coating systems that are preferably high in bio-content and offer safer labeling.