Boisco Systems vs Epoxies and Polyurethanes

Cure Times

Cure times affect how quickly an installation can occur and then how quickly the floor can be returned to full use (or other trades come back into the area to work).

It should be noted that while you can walk on an epoxy or polyurethane floor when it has reached physical cure, these systems should not be subjected to full operational use until full chemical cure is achieved. In simple terms, the ultra fast cure times of Boisco Systems enable faster installations and much faster return to full use.

Installation Temperature

Boisco Systems can be installed at temperatures down to -30°C without any detrimental affect on cure time. The same cannot be said for Epoxies and Polyurethanes.
In most cases, these products should not be installed at temperatures of less than 5-10°C, with optimal cure occurring at approx. 20°C. The speed of cure for epoxy or polyurethane installations is greatly affected by temperature. The higher the temperature, the faster the cure (please note most epoxy and polyurethane specification sheets quote cure times at 20°C).

However, if epoxies and polyurethanes are exposed to temperatures below 5°C during the curing process, there is a high probability that the installation will be compromised.

Speed of Installation

Nearly all resin systems are installed in multiple layers (primer, main body coat layer, seals etc). As Boisco products cure fully in just 2 hours, there is no real downtime between the application of each layer.

However, epoxies and polyurethanes typically need at least 4 - 8 hours to cure between applications, resulting in significantly longer installation periods.

Bonding Technology

MMA resins are thermoplastics which achieve a chemical bond between each installation layer, resulting in a monolithic finish. In reality, each new layer chemically fuses to the previous layer (or existing subfloor) creating a virtually unbreakable bond.

Epoxy and polyurethane resins are thermosetting and achieve only a mechanical bond between installation layers. In reality each new layer 'sticks' to the previous layer (or existing subfloor).

Detailing

Boisco resin flooring systems do not shrink and accordingly installation is both simple, repeatable and the finished floor reliable. PU floors often require retention chases to be cut into the floor, and at all termination points, to try and offset the shrinkage stresses that occur when the floor cures. This complicates the installation and can result in performance problems.

Additionally, Boisco resins can be bonded directly to drainage channels and other potential areas of weakness to create reliable and durable installations. In many cases polyurethane and epoxy finishes will require an expansion joint to be installed in these areas which creates a weakness that is often the cause of future issues.

Slip Resistance

Boisco offers a range of solutions to meet varying slip resistance requirements. This is especially true of industrial environments, where outstanding performance is required.

Our Boisco FB and QTA systems utilise quartz aggregate which stays suspended at the top surface of the system creating a consistent and textured finish that delivers marketing leading performance.

Whereas, most polyurethane systems are trowel applied and rely on the installer leaving part of the aggregate within the resin mix 'exposed' to create slip resistance. This method often results in an inconsistent surface finish and together with early wear can result in unsatisfactory slip resistance.

Durability

Boisco resins are totally UV resistant and do not become brittle with age. Many polyurethane resins are not UV resistant creating long-term performance issues (including discolouration).

Additionally, some epoxy formulations have been proven to become brittle over time resulting in poor long term performance.

Temperature Resistance

Boisco Systems offer excellent temperature resistance at a thickness of just 4mm. However, polyurethane resins can with-stand temperatures of up to 120°C when installed at a thickness of 9mm.

Based on our experience it is rare that a customer actually needs a floor that can resist high temperatures, often finding that small changes in operating procedures avoids high temperature liquids coming into contact with the floor.