When strength counts
Epoxy sealers, which include epoxy-based sealants, are important engineering and structural sealants that play critical roles in protecting floors and other surfaces. Which ones are right for you?
Use epoxy sealants to waterproof and protect concrete floors in industrial areas.
Epoxy sealers and epoxy-based sealants are very versatile and serve a number of purposes in buildings, from sealing mastic joints to creating heavy-duty protective floor coatings in industrial settings. You can also use epoxy sealants for waterproofing, which makes them great for installing tiles and mosaics in damp spaces like bathrooms and swimming pools.
Like epoxy adhesives, epoxy sealers are known for their strength and durability and consist of two components, a hardener and a resin, which must be thoroughly mixed before application.
When selecting an epoxy resin sealer, you need to consider several factors. Two of the most important are adhesion and flexibility: the epoxy sealer must be able to bond with your construction materials and expand or shrink as much as these materials do. It also must be able to withstand the mechanical stress exerted upon the materials.
If you want a flexible, waterproof epoxy sealer that offers a protective coating and resists chemicals, Polybit Polypoxy CR or Polypoxy PS are fantastic choices. It creates powerful, solvent free seals, making it ideal for use in industrial spaces and permanently wet areas, such as storage tanks and breweries. Combine it with Polybit Polyprime EP for best results.
Before beginning, consult your TDS for general information about the proper humidity level and temperature range for application.
- Gather materials. Besides the epoxy-based sealant, you need a low-speed electric drill; a brush, broom, or roller for application; and gloves and safety goggles. Depending on your application, a primer and tools like a grinder for mechanical treatment may also be necessary.
- Stay safe. Wear gloves and safety goggles to protect your hands and eyes.
- Prepare surfaces. Use the epoxy sealer only on load bearing, solid, clean, and dry surfaces that have been primed properly (if necessary). See the TDS for information about primers and mechanically retreating or renewing the surface. The surface strength must match the anticipated static, thermal, and dynamic stresses.
- Mix the epoxy sealer. Mix the proper ratios of the epoxy sealer’s hardener and resin (see TDS) using a low-speed electric drill until the mixture is free of lumps.
- Application. Use a brush, broom, or roller to apply the epoxy sealer to the prepared surface within the product’s pot life. You may need to apply multiple layers with a certain thickness to ensure reliable sealing. Your TDS will specify this, as well as the length of time you need to wait between layer application.
Worth the wait and the extra work: the epoxy sealer under these tiles protects against water.
- Cure time. If your epoxy-based sealant is the final coating on a surface, such as a concrete floor, let it cure for the amount of time stated in the product’s technical information. If you are installing additional materials like ceramic tiles on top of the epoxy sealer, you will need to wait a certain amount of time before doing so. The TDS will also contain this information.
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Pot life and curing time depend on the ambient temperature. Higher temperatures shorten the pot life by accelerating curing reactions.
- Removal and clean-up. Clean tools immediately with a solvent after use. You can use solvents to clean tools and remove excess sealant within its pot life. Cured sealant can only be removed mechanically.
Henkel Polybit offers heavy-duty epoxy-based coatings.