Resin can be used for all kinds of things. There’s beautiful amber jewellery, resin varnishes, adhesives, and more. Some resinous compounds are broken down and used as perfumes or incense. Resins are created by plants, insects and fossils; there are also synthetic resins. Most importantly for our purposes, resin is also used to create flooring, and different resins have a variety of useful qualities that make them well suited for these purposes. So many different sources, so many different uses; what exactly is resin?
As it turns out, that question is somewhat difficult to answer. There’s a blog that tries to describe in layman’s terms what resin is, and we’ll try to make it simple. Resin, whether synthetic or not, is typically created from a mix of organic compounds (any chemical that contains carbon), and they’re typically convertible into polymers (large molecules that contain multiple repetitions of other units of molecules). DNA is one example of a polymer; plastics are polymers as well. In the flooring world, there are typically three types of resin used; epoxies, MMA and cementitious urethane.
Epoxy resins are a combination of epichlorohydrin and an amine. The amine acts as a hardener; without getting into too much more chemistry, you should know that amines contain nitrogen, and are derivatives of ammonia. There are a variety of different amines available, and what kind of epoxy resin you end up with will depend on the specific blend of amine with epichlorohydrin you use. Epoxy floorings have a plethora of advantages; they’re quite durable, and available in a wide variety of patterns and colours. They are a bit finicky though, so they have to be installed by a professional flooring expert.
MMA is not flooring composed of the crushed hopes and dreams of would-be UFC champions, though that would probably make quite an impression. Rather, it’s methyl methacrylate, composed of a methacrylate ester and an organic peroxide. It’s slip resistant and aesthetically pleasing, as many MMA fighters wish they were, so there is some correlation. MMA’s can reach full cure in as little at 45 minutes, making them excellent resins for fast track projects.
Cementitious urethane is an interesting resinous flooring, because it’s a combination of resin, Portland cement. The resin used is a combination of a polyol (multiple linked hydrogen and oxygen molecules; sugar alcohols are polyols) and an isocyanate. This flooring comes with the advantages of concrete durability and resinous water-resistance; it also cures quite quickly, making it a good choice for businesses who can’t close down for prolonged periods of time.
To get the best resinous flooring, you have to put your trust in the best suppliers, and that’s why you need an epoxy flooring installer. TCF West is certified an all forms of resin and has a long, extensive track record of complex industrial projects under its belt. Getting good quality flooring and good installation is key, and TCF West is always up to the challenge!
