If you’ve decided to invest in protecting your concrete surfaces then you know that there are many choices available out there. Water resistant, waterproof, shiny, natural, enhancing, etc;. Out of all of the choices, the most important decisions are to choose one that will work for what you need and to choose one that will last as long as possible so that you don’t have to make this decision again.
VITAL COAT V-SERIES COATINGS were designed to provide a coating that will perform to the highest level providing the confidence that the consumer is indeed investing in a sealer that will work and will last for a long time. VITAL COAT V-SERIES COATINGS are super durable because they use a unique chemistry that incorporates cross-linking chemical reactions between a base (part A) and an activator (part B). When mixed together, the coating will produce a coating that will permanently bond to concrete and provide a protective coating that outperforms expensive two part epoxy compounds that are very durable but difficult to apply. Vital Coat essentially provides a product that has the strength and durability of Epoxy Resins but has made it easy to work with like traditional Acrylic coatings.
Some people may be concerned about the application of a “two part” system as opposed to a “ready to apply” product. In a lot of cases, mixing component systems requires experienced users that have knowledge of similar applications. Some people are concerned about the level of difficulty to apply as well as the irritating smell of traditional solvent based epoxies. VITAL COAT V-SERIES COATINGS has considered all of these things. The packages come with premeasured amounts so all you have to do is pour all the contents together and mix. It’s that EASY. You will also be satisfied when you see how easy it is to apply a nice even layer with a pump sprayer all while not dealing with any noxious smells. Once applied, you can rest assured that you have made the best decision and you have applied a coating that is super durable, and will last a very long time. So after you are done, you can enjoy the gratification of having concrete that will stay clean, resist mildew and require very little maintenance. You will be the envy of the neighborhood!
For a component system to work properly, you must allow the components to achieve the designed chemical reactions so that it will perform properly. Below are some helpful facts about “two part” systems.
USE SOUND MIXING TECHNIQUES
- Separate your part A and part B containers, and make sure you have all components required for each coating.
- Always mix fully the entire contents of part B into part A.
- Use only the amount of material you plan to use within the specified pot life.
- Use a spiral mixer of proper size, to ensure thorough mixing and mix for the recommended time on the TDS.
- Let the mixed sealer rest for 10 minutes (Induction Period) to ensure that all air bubbles have dissipated. After the induction period has elapsed, use your component products immediately. Do not save extra for use past the recommended pot life because by that time the chemicals will have reacted and will negatively impact the performance of the coating.
Be aware that higher temperatures will speed up activation time and decrease the pot life of the coatings. For every additional 10 degrees in temperature, your coating’s pot life will generally decrease by half. So keep the product in an environment that will fall in the specified temperature range.
COMMON PROBLEMS
Problems often occur with component products when:
- Additional components or additional water are added that are not specified.
- Products are mixed improperly. For example; just pouring together and shaking or by mixing too much or too little.
- The induction time and pot life are not followed.
- Products are mixed and applied when the temperature is too high.
CURING AND RETURN TO SERVICE
Film curing is the process by which a liquid coating solidifies. With two-component products, this takes place during the chemical reaction between part A and part B.
Most two-component products will dry within several hours. Film curing, however, typically requires seven days to dry. VITAL COAT V-SERIES COATINGS are dry to touch within 2 hours and depending on the model # can be cured within 14 hours. Higher temperatures speed up the curing time, while lower temperatures with high humidity lengthen the time required.
Return to service is shorter for surfaces that receive lighter traffic. Vital Coat recommends a minimum of 72 hours to allow for optimal chemical and abrasion resistance, and for surfaces with higher traffic.
For more information, refer to your product TDS.
