Abrasive - Material used for grinding and polishing.
Acid - Water-based solutions that turn litmus indicators
red. Any compound that can react with a base to form a salt. A pH between 0 and 7.
Acrylic Resins - Thermoplastic polymers or copolymers of
Acrylic Acid, Methacrylic Acid, esters of these acids or Acrylonritrile – these
resins range from soft, sticky, semi-fluid material to hard solids, well known examples of
which are "Lucite" and "Plexiglas".
Alcohol - A compound derived from a hydrocarbon
containing one or more hydroxyl groups. May be used as the liquid vehicle of resins.
Alkali - Any compound of hydroxide, such as soda, potash,
etc., that is soluble in water and can neutralize acids. A pH of between 7 and 14.
Anhydrous - A material entirely free from water (see
Hydrous). Anhydrous materials can be either liquid or powdered. Many anhydrous powders
will absorb moisture from the air if left open. This absorbing of moisture will cause
caking of the material in most cases.
Anion - A negatively charged ion.
Anionic Wetting Agent - A wetting agent most effective in
alkaline solutions. The ions in the solution bear a negative charge.
ASTM - American Society of
Testing Materials
Biodegradable - Term used to denote whether a
detergent is capable of being broken down by bacteria in a normal decomposing process. A
detergent that will break down rapidly is call "soft". Those that will take
considerable time or will not break down are called "hard".
Buffer - A compound that regulates or stabilizes the pH
of a solution.
Buffer Action - The ability of a material to maintain a
nearly constant pH over a wide range of dilutions. Moderate amounts of an acid material
may be added to a buffered alkaline solution without changing the pH significantly.
Cation - A positively charge ion.
Centigrade - Temperature scale 0°C Freezing 100°C
Boiling
Cleaner - A tool, device or chemical preparation for
removing dirt.
Colloidal - A liquid suspension in which the
particles will not settle on standing. Milk is an example of a colloidal suspension. (See
Solution).
Compound - Two or more elements chemically united in
definite proportions by weight. May be separated only by chemical means.
Concentration - The amount of a substance per unit
volume.
Corrosion - Any detrimental chemical attack on metal
surfaces. Examples of corrosion are rust on aluminum, magnesium and zinc, green to blue
stain on brass and copper.
Detergent - A material designed to clean.
"Detergent" refers to the synthetic class of cleaners which does not contain
soap. However in common terminology "Soap" is a considered a detergent.
Dirt - Matter in the wrong place.
Dispersing Agent - Any material added to a compound to
promote the spreading of very small particles through the solution. The dispersed
particles will not remain suspended indefinitely.
Efflorescent - A growth of salt crystals on a
surface due to evaporation of salt laden water.
Emulsion - A stable mixture of water in oil or oil in
water by the addition of a third material known as the emulsifier (usually a surfactant).
Enzymes - A large class of complex proteinaceous
molecules, which act as catalysts in biochemical reactions.
Fahrenheit - Temperature scale 32°F Freezing 212°F
Boiling
Flash Point - The temperature at which the material will
flash but will not burn on application of a flame, as determined by an ASTM* standard
procedure.
Finish - A compound designed to produce a surface film,
usually high in gloss.
Hard - Soft - See Biodegradable
Hard Water - Water containing dissolved calcium and
magnesium compounds. Degree of hardness is expressed as grains of calcium carbonate per
gallon water. (One grain per gallon is equal to 17.1 parts per million). Water containing
up to 5 grains is considered soft. Over 30 grains is very hard.
Humidity - The weight of water vapor per unit of volume
of air. Dampness of air.
Hydrous - A material containing water. Hydrous materials
can be either liquid or powdered. Powdered hydrous materials tend to cake.
Indicator - A substance which changes color at a definite
hydrogen ion concentration.
Inhibitor - That which prevents a reaction from
happening.
Inorganic - Involving neither organic life nor the
products of organic life.
Melting Point - The temperature at which the solid and
liquid state of a substance are in equilibrium.
Monomer - A molecule or compound usually containing
carbon and of a relatively low molecular weight and simple structure which is capable of
conversion into polymers, plastics or synthetic resins or elastomers by combination with
itself or other similar molecules or compounds. Thus, styrene is the monomer from which
Polystyrene resins are produced.
Neutralization - The action of an acid and a base
(alkali) to produce salt and water. To make a solution chemically neutral.
Non Ionic Wetting Agent - A wetting agent affective in
either alkaline or acid solutions. These materials are neutral in nature when placed in
solution.
- Hard floors, such as marble,
terrazzo, concrete, magnesite, slate.
Non-Volatile - Residual solids after water and
volatile components evaporate.
Organic - Of, pertaining to or derived from living
organisms.
pH - Unit for measuring acidity and alkalinity: 0 –
7; represents degree of acidity; 7 neutral point; 7 – 14 represents degree of
alkalinity.
pH Scale - A means of expressing the degree of alkalinity
or acidity of a solution.
Plastic - Any various non-metallic compounds,
synthetically produced which can be molded into various forms and hardened for commercial
use. Various trade mark names for plastics are: Lucite, Bakelite, Nylon, etc.
Plasticizer - Any of various substances added to plastics
or other materials to keep them soft or pliable.
Poly - A prefix signifying many – for example,
a polymer is an aggregate formed by a combination of a number of single (mono) molecules.
Polymer - A substance (often synthetic) composed of
giant molecules that have been formed by the union of a considerable number of simple
molecules with one another. The number of simple molecules that unite to form a polymer
molecule vary from two to hundreds or thousands. The simple molecules that will undergo
such a change are known as monomers and their union is called polymerization. The monomer
molecules may be all alike or there may be two or more varieties of monomer involved in
the formation of a particular polymer. Thus, ethylene molecules can be united with
themselves to form polyethylene plastic, which is a polymer.
Polish - A product designed to protect and beautify
floors. A Finish.
Resin - Natural & synthetic components in floor
finishes, added to improve leveling and gloss characteristics.
Resins - Natural - Any of numerous clear to
translucent yellow or brown solid or semisolid viscous substances of plant origin. Gums
which are insoluble in water.
Resins - Synthetic - Amorphous, organic, semi-solid
materials produced by union (polymerization or condensation) of a large number of
molecules, of one, two, frequently three, relatively simple compounds. Properties vary
widely with the raw materials, their proportions and the conditions of formation of the
resin. The term synthetic resin is also sometimes applied to chemically modified natural
resins. Resins are broadly classified as thermoplastic or thermosetting according as they
soften or harden with application of heat.
Resilient Floors - Soft floors – rubber, linoleum,
asphalt, vinyl, etc.
Saponification - Formation of soap by mixing caustic
(alkali) and fat or oil (vegetable or animal) together.
Seal - A substance to penetrate the floor material
and fill pores rather than to produce a surface finish.
Sequestrant - A substance used in soap solutions to
prevent the formation of metal soaps or soap scum.
Soaps - Products formed by saponification of caustic and
fats or oils (vegetable or animal).
Soap Scum - The insoluble precipitate that forms when
soap is used in hard water. Synonymous with soap curd and lime soap.
Solution - A mixture wherein a solid is completely
dissolved in a liquid. (Example: sugar in water – a solution will be clear while a
colloidal suspension will be hazy when held up to the light).
Solvent Action - The action of a liquid when dissolving
oils, grease, waxes, etc.
Solvents 1. Aliphatic Solvents - Organic compounds
which are derived from petroleum hydrocarbons and are generally used for dissolving
paraffin oils. Examples of aliphatic solvents are kerosene and mineral spirits. These
solvents are usually safe on Plexiglas.
2. Aromatic Solvents - Organic compounds which are derived from coal tars. The word
"aromatic" means "bad odor". Examples of aromatic solvents are
toluene, benzene, xylol and naphtha. These solvents will usually craze Plexiglas.
Spalling - The act of unsealed concrete to dust, flake,
chip or crumble.
Surface Tension - A chemical force by which the surface
of a liquid acts as an elastic film. Lowering the surface tension by adding a detergent
will aid materially in the penetrating and rinsing of soils.
Thermoplastic - Term applied particularly to synthetic
resins that may be softened by heat, and then regain their original properties upon
cooling. Vinyl resins, polystyrene and acrylate resins are of this type.
Viscosity - A measure of the thickness of a liquid.
VOC's - Volatile Organic Compounds are solvents that
evaporate into the air during the drying process. VOC’s react with atmospheric
nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to produce ozone, a major component of smog.
Volatile - That which will evaporate.
Water Miscible - Capable of being mixed in water.
Wax - Variably viscous to solid substances, having a
characteristic waxy luster, which are insoluble in water but soluble in most organic
solvent; they are extremely susceptible to changes in temperature and their origin,
composition and color are variable.
Waxes are usually grouped according to their origin as follows:
Animal – Spermaceti, Beeswax, etc.
Mineral – Ozocerite, Montain, Paraffin, etc.
Vegetable – Carnauba, Jopan, Candelilla, etc.
Synthetic – Man made as well as waxes obtained from the
distillation of paraffin base petroleum.
Wetting Action - The ability of a solution to penetrate
or "wet" a surface.
Wetting Agent - A substance used to make water wetter
- surface active. A wetting agent will normally lower the surface tension of a
liquid. |
