Renewable Materials in Concrete Coatings
by Daniel Owen - R&D Leader, Specialty Flooring
What’s Next? Renewable Materials in the Concrete Coatings Industry
We constantly follow trends in sustainable construction, as many preferences and regulations are leaning in this direction. One aspect we’re watching closely is the use of raw materials in building products.
In recent years, the availability of raw materials that are made from renewable resources has greatly increased. I’m especially interested in the use of polymers derived from rapidly renewable resources.
Polyols in Concrete Coatings
A large amount of these polymers are polyols made from soy or castor oil, so they don’t have much to do with the concrete coatings industry. However, there are a few polyols made from castor oil that can be used with aromatic isocyanates to make coatings with properties that can compete with 100% solids epoxies. In some cases, the polyols will even offer better properties.
This type of urethane-based flooring system has been used in Europe for decades, yet it hasn’t taken off in the US. I mainly attribute the slow adoption to cost. Epoxy is simply more economical – for now. As we refine our technologies, I could see the costs dropping rather quickly. Keep an eye out for new high build urethanes.
Epoxies, too, have seen some advancement is the use of renewable resources. You will now see some curing agents made from cashew nut oil or diluents made from soy.
Responsibility in Sustainable Building
I am always looking at ways we can use raw materials in APF products. We are already using raw materials in CASTORCRETE™, a line of urethane modified concrete that contains no VOCs and is commonly used in food and beverage processing facilities.
We all have a duty to protect the environment, especially in the trades. Now, new technologies and best practices are making it easier. As more research is conducted as to how we can replace naturally derived oils with crude oil as a feed stock, we will continue to introduce new and powerful polymers that limit our environmental footprint.