Do you often get surprised by sudden Bubbles or Pinholes on Epoxy Floor?

Or you are tired of Epoxy peeling off the base surface?

These are common phenomena in Epoxy, and each of them tells us a story. Just by looking at the kind of damage on Epoxy Floor, one can tell “what went wrong?”.

This conclusion would help in preventing any such problems in the future.

Here is a guide to help you understand the background story of Epoxy damage.

Blistering: Pinholes, Bubbles, Craters

Blistering can emerge on Epoxy Floors as – Pinholes, Bubbles, and Craters on Epoxy Surface.

At first they might seem to be harmless, but they actually act as the starting point for more severe damage on the Floor.

Blistering usually occurs when air/ gas gets trapped by the resin layer. If it remains trapped – it emerges as bubbles. If they escape later – it emerges as pinholes and craters.

What does it indicate?

If Epoxy floor in your premises has been Blistering, it would be due to one or more of the following reasons:

The Resin and Hardener were not mixed in the correct proportions:

The ratio in which the two components of Epoxy should be mixed varies from product to product. They should always be mixed as per the maker’s recommendation. Any deviation from the recommended proportions would result in a low-quality Epoxy.

Epoxy application has been done in a rushed manner. Each layer needs to be given the recommended curing time during application.

Epoxy has been exposed to UV radiation UV rays deteriorate Epoxy by reacting with the polymer. Such Exposure can damage Epoxy during application and weeks after application as well.

Epoxy Floor is exposed to moisture or humidity. Both – surface humidity and atmospheric moisture can act to deteriorate Epoxy. Even if such exposure is weeks after completion of the application, it will still cause Blistering.

Base Floor was too rough. Roughness means the floor is porous. Air or moisture keeps getting released from these pores in concrete. Thus leading to Blistering on Epoxy surface. If the base floor is rough, one can keep getting surprised by regular appearance of Blistering on the surface.

Peeling

Epoxy layer peeling off the floor is a pain for plant managers and facility managers. It gives rise to large patches on the floor surface. These patches get peeled off further in all directions – giving rise to EVEN LARGER PATCHES. In most cases the chain ends at re-application of Epoxy.

The main reason why Epoxy peels of a floor’s surface is because of inadequate binding between the Epoxy layer and the base floor.

It could happen because of one of the following reasons:

Temperature was either too low or too high during application. The optimal temperature range for Epoxy application and maintenance is 20 to 30 degree Celsius. If Epoxy doesn’t get the right conditions while setting, it won’t lay correctly on the concrete floor. Moreover, changes in temperature lead to moisture which loosens the Epoxy-Base Floor bond.

Presence of Moisture or high Humidity. For perfect application and maintenance of Epoxy,

Base Floor should be completely dry

Relative humidity should be less than 65%

In absence of such conditions, Epoxy doesn’t bind well with the base floor and ends up peeling.

The Base floor was too smooth

A perfect-looking smooth concrete floor is also an unfavorable factor for a high-quality Epoxy Floor. Here, resin fails to strongly bind with the concrete floor and ends up peeling off later.

Presence of Oil on Base Surface Oil or any other lubricating material comes between the Epoxy layer and the base concrete floor. It, therefore, acts as an obstruction for Epoxy to adhere properly with the base floor.

The result? Peeling!

Caution: Beware of oil that is absorbed in concrete surface. It can be identified as irregular dark patches. If they are present, the applicator needs to scrape off the top concrete layer before starting the application procedure.

Base floor was not clean during application. Any dust or waste material on the base surface acts as an obstruction for a strongly bonded Epoxy. It needs to be thoroughly cleaned before starting application.

Discoloration

Discoloration in Epoxy looks like uneven colored patches on the floor surface. To check if Epoxy is discolored, scrape off the top most layer of Epoxy by a sharp tool. If the color underneath is different from the surface – it means Epoxy is discolored.

Discoloration of Epoxy can arise from one of the following reasons:

UV Exposure UV rays react with Epoxy to give it a slightly darker shade. This can be easily observed if a part of the Epoxy that is exposed to sun has a different shade.

Application was too slow

If the applicator waits for a long time to lay Epoxy, the solution of Resin and Hardener might exceed its pot life. At this stage, the mixture might also seem to be workable. But if it has exceeded its pot life – it results in low quality Epoxy of low quality.