For new construction and renovation projects, designers and architects are using concrete floor as a beautiful decorative component. Decorative stains, stamped concrete and diamond polishing are utilized as durable and decorative finishing elements. But, as time passes the surface can have chemical exposure that stains or damages the concrete.
Steven Reinstadtler, a coating expert from Bayer MaterialScience, has studied the use of two-component waterborne polyurethane sealers in combination with decorative concrete to achieve excellent aesthetics and durability. The waterborne polyurethane technology is seen as an ideal alternative to the existing traditional acrylic stainguard products, as there is a growing demand for concrete sealers with higher durability. The testing has shown that the waterborne polyurethane sealer eliminates discoloration of decorative concrete products when they are exposed to various corrosive or tinting compounds. The study results have been published in a technical paper titled, “Floor Sealer on Steroids – Novel Green Sealer Technology for Decorative Concrete Flooring."
Traditional stainguard products have considerable amounts of solvents and VOCs. The need for new coatings with decreased heavy metals, hazardous air pollutants (HAPS), VOC and other environmentally harmful compounds is increasing due to heavy sustainability, regulatory and governmental pressures. Recently, waterborne polyurethane sealers and coatings have been developed that meet several requirements of contractors, formulators and owners, including concrete penetration, accessibility, long-term performance, low odor and stain and chemical resistance.