Epoxy is a durable and reliable substance. It’s also starting to make a better name for itself as a flooring alternative to both residential and commercial properties. Because of the amazing durability and nuanced visual detail capable in every epoxy floor coating pour, more people are paying attention to the possibilities within epoxy flooring options than they were before. What most folks aren’t familiar with is how many different kinds of epoxy are available. There’s loads of different epoxy compounds that can be used for different reasons and in different scenarios. This includes high-temperature epoxy which can be extremely valuable in settings like coffee shops, kitchens, and industrial areas.
So what is there to know about high-temperature epoxy and how would you know if it’s the best option for you and your next flooring project? Let’s take a look.
Epoxy Temperature Recommendations
High-temperature epoxy, sometimes known as heat-resistant epoxy, is offered in several different formats and can be personalized depending on your specific needs. If you’re looking to try a DIY epoxy kit, you’ll only be out-fitted with the standard epoxy coating which is usually tolerant of temperatures up to around 150 degrees. Certainly, that’s a hard level to cross if your main concern is just creating a cute coffee table or a display table for a shop. But if you’re looking for an epoxy coating that would be more suited to industrial purposes, you’ll have to get one of the epoxy options that are more susceptible to high heats. There are epoxies on the market that can withstand heat up to 600 degrees. Clearly, this is best suited for applications that will see the flooring material encountering accidents from hot holding tanks nearby and perhaps fryers. High-temperature epoxies like this are often crafted to include really high-quality fillers like quartz. This makes these epoxies more expensive, but if your project calls for this sort of durability, the added abrasion resistance and heat-curing methods of the epoxy will be a major boon and will help you satisfy the needs of the project better than any other flooring available.
These specialized epoxies are crafted to be thermally conductive and that makes them especially exceptional for encapsulation as well as potting. Notably, these epoxies off a higher than average chemical resistance and can withstand steam exposure better than any other flooring method. This means your flooring will be able to easily handle high-frequency vibrations for prolonged periods of time as well as considerable shock treatments on top of the extreme heat resistance that you’re originally signing up for. Indeed when cured right and crafted correctly, it’s not a problem for truly industrial-grade epoxies to remain intact at nearly 1500 degrees. This quality is often attributed to the exceptional curing agents used in these specific scenarios, as well as the rod structure of the epoxy and the carbon fiber components within the recipe. This type of epoxy is high-end and extremely durable. So durable, in fact, that many airline brands use epoxies like this in the construction of airbuses and air vehicles meant for higher and normal altitude aviation. It’s extremely strong stuff and is more than appropriate for the flooring of any industrial or commercial application imaginable.
The Basics of High-Heat Epoxy
Epoxy is a fascinating substance and interacts with the laws of thermodynamics in equally fascinating ways. When the epoxy is exposed to very high temperatures, it’s basic properties change drastically. The properties that are known to change include a range of everything from electrical, mechanical, and thermal, to things like the glass transition temperature. The “glass transition temperature” is defined as the temperature and time at that temperature that will change epoxy from the state of glass, the most popular form of we know it in, to its original rubber-like consistency. When it reaches this temperature and remains there long enough there are times when the epoxy will not return to its previous state of a durable, glass-like solid. This is why using the proper epoxy for all of your real needs is a must, and not something that’s really up for debate. That’s why epoxies made for industrial purposes are made with the heat deflection temperature in mind, rather than the glass transition temperature. This difference in method allows the high-heat tolerance epoxy to remain high-temperature proof for years to come.
Indeed, this method and difference in the composition of the epoxy comes with a number of unexpected perks. For example, you’ll find that the properly crafted high-heat epoxy coating will not just be durable, strong and thermal conductivity friendly. It’ll also be exceptionally elementally stable, it’ll have notable flame retardancy, UV curability and superb flexibility making it harder to mar or breach the surface of the epoxy.
Design-Options With Heat Resistant Epoxy
One of the many reasons epoxy is seeing such a marked rise in popularity is due to its clear surface. This allows for skilled installers to create artwork within the epoxy coatings and turn the flooring into something remarkable, rather than something plain or ordinary. This is a more difficult task with high-heat epoxy flooring coatings. Heat resistant epoxy will still look more attractive than most heat-resistant flooring options currently on the market, but it will be harder to customize than it’s less industrial counterpart. Unfortunately, because of all the additives in a heat-resistant epoxy which are made to increase durability and add all of the other benefits we previously mentioned, it rarely cures as in a crystal clear format. Obviously, this can significantly limit the design options available for your project. This can be toggled and customized according to the actual temperature your flooring may come in contact with.
A foggy, yet shiny finish will be achieved through any epoxy with ease, however, if the aesthetic is important to you and you still need a high-heat option we can work with you. We’ll start by deducing the highest heats available in your workspace that the epoxy may be exposed to. This will help us navigate what sort of additives you’ll need in order to keep the subflooring and the epoxy flooring you’ve already invested in safe from the high temperatures. If together, we determine that you’ll need an extremely high-heat epoxy for your specific project, our designers will be happy to work with you. We have lots of experience exploring options with people and creating a new vision, not just based on what’s trendy but based on their actual needs as a property owner. We’ll be able to help you find a design that suits your practical and aesthetic needs with ease.
Reach Out to PPI Epoxy Coatings in Orlando
We’re always happy to help you find out more about the wonders of epoxy coatings and what we can achieve for your commercial or residential property. If you’re looking for a flooring material that’s unmatched in durability, aesthetics, and longevity, you’ve found it. We can offer highly customized epoxy coatings to suit all your needs, whether it be a new flooring for your kitchen or an upgraded covering for your garage floor. We can help you turn your Orlando property into a more chic and durable space with a flooring upgrade alone. Reach out to us if you’re curious about our services or have further questions about your project, specifically.
Not so sure about epoxy coatings yet? Check out our many different resources and explore our galleries to get a better sense of the type of look that can be accomplished through epoxy and just what this ultra-practical and stunning flooring material can be capable of now.