Sealer Basics
The "Institute of
Sanitation Management" defines a seal as "a substance to penetrate the floor material and fill pores
rather than to produce a surface finish." Sealer use is
in decline in the current market. Sealers are traditionally used on old, worn,
porous surfaces. Sealers are used for two basic purposes:
1. Reduce the use
of floor finish (by sealing pores faster and more efficiently)
2. Protecting from
chemical attack or stains.
WHY USE A SEALER
Reduce the use of floor finish. Sealers are better at sealing
old, worn, porous surfaces than are floor finishes. two coats of sealer and two coats of
finish will perform much better than four coats of finish.
TYPES OF SEALERS
Historically we have dealt with two types of seals....
- Solvent Based - Permanent Seals
- Water Based - Semi-permanent Seals
The type of seal to use depends on a number of factors, such as.....
- Type of floor? Resilient or Non-resilient.
- Type of business? Hospital, Warehouse, Supermarket
- How long can floor be out of service? Solvent seals have a much
longer drying time.
- How experienced are the people applying the seal?
SOLVENT BASED SEAL
Solvent based seals are frequently referred to as solutions or
dispersions. A dispersion is the separation and suspension of particles in a medium.
A solution is a mixture wherein a solid base is completely dissolved by the solvent or
liquid portion of the mixture.
Solvent based seals are a combination of natural or synthetic resins
dissolved in a solvent, with oils sometimes added to aid in drying and film
flexibility. If an oil is added the seal is then referred to as an oil modified
seal.
Examples of these various ingredients are....
| RESIN |
SOLVENT |
OIL |
| Acrylic |
Mineral Spirits |
Tung |
| Phenolic |
Xylol |
Linseed |
| Urethane |
Xylene |
Safflower |
| Epoxy |
|
Soya Bean |
| Rubber |
|
|
Resin and solvent combinations only are called straight
solutions. These solutions are often quite brittle and should not be built up on the
surface. Examples are...
- Chlorinated Rubber-curing compound
- Shellac
- Solution Acrylic
These films are called breather films. That is, they will
allow moisture in or below the floor to migrate through them.
Oil modified solvent seals have a varying degrees of color, dry
time, film flexibility and abrasion resistance.
Examples are....
- Moisture cured polyurethane
- Oil modified urethane
- Modified phenolic
- Tung oil phenolic
- Epoxy
Due to the oil content these films are non breather films.
That means moisture migrating upwards through the floor will cause a hydrostatic pressure
under the film causing it to blister and release from the floor. Therefore, oil
modified seal applied to floors on or below grade should only be used if there is a
moisture membrane under the floor.
Due to the solvent fumes coming off these products during the drying
process they cannot be used around food or patients.
WATER BASED SEAL
Water based seals are less permanent than solvent based seals but
are easier to apply, safer to use and more readily removed.
Removability, Not metal cross linked
Salt resistance
Urine resistance
Particle size distribution
Contain no wax or resin
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