Protecting the environment is a high priority when dealing with harsh chemicals and heavy industrial processes that face increasingly strict regulations. It is crucial for these facilities to protect the infiltration of hazardous waste and chemicals into underlying groundwater and soil by providing a seamless, highly chemical resistant surface. The industries facing these responsibilities include:

• Chemical

• Metal

• Oil and gas

• Power

• Pulp and paper

• Water and waste water

In addition to ensuring the long-term safety of the environment, facilities within these industries still face major challenges. These include both protecting the health and safety of personnel, as well as maintaining the durability and structural integrity of the facilities themselves.

While a wide range of acids and alkalis exist in these industries and their day-to-day operations, with varying concentrations, these chemicals all have one thing in common: the ability to be extremely harsh and hazardous in nature and the potential to severely damage floors, walls, and linings in primary and secondary tanks and containment areas of exposure. These compounds demand the utmost in high-performance coatings for the areas in need.

Additionally, as with virtually any commercial or industrial facility, the systems must be able to withstand varying levels of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, abrasion, heavy loads and other factors that can cause damage or deterioration to concrete substrates.

Vinyl Ester Resin – What is it and what can it do for my facility?

Vinyl ester is based on bisphenol-A epoxy resin and provides resistance to a wide range of acids, alkalis, bleaches and solvents for use in many chemical processing applications. It possesses capabilities of both polyester and epoxy resin based coatings and features strong resistance to both corrosion and water. Vinyl ester resins are specially formulated for applications that require greater toughness than polyester resins can provide, as well as excellent thermal stability and the ability to withstand relatively wide changes in temperature. Vinyl ester resins often serve to bridge the gap between polyester and epoxy resin.

This corrosion and water resistance, combined with high thermal stability, make vinyl ester resins an excellent option for both indoor and outdoor secondary containment areas.

Novolac Vinyl Ester Resin

Novolac-based vinyl esters are a higher functioning epoxy vinyl ester. The tight cross linking provides exceptional thermal and chemical resistance including concentrated acids, alkalis, solvents, and other organic chemicals.

Epoxy Novolac Resin

Epoxy novolac is a multifunctional epoxy resin. When cured it provides a high cross-link density due to the increased epoxy functionality. Epoxy novolac has excellent chemical and solvent resistance. They are 100% solids containing no solvent, safe to apply and odorless. They are known for their excellent alkaline resistance and superior sulfuric acid resistance up to 98%.

The Difference between Vinyl Ester Resin and Epoxy Novolac Resin

Structurally, vinyl ester resin and epoxy novolac resin are similar, and both are known for their corrosion resistance and ability to withstand harsh and/or hazardous chemicals. However, vinyl ester resin has excellent thermal stability over a wide range of temperatures, making it possible to handle higher temperatures with chemical exposure. Epoxy novolacs typically require heat cure to provide higher temperature resistance. They perform very well in ambient environments.

Both novolac systems have exceptional chemical resistance depending on the specific chemicals, concentration and temperature. Always consult manufacturer prior to deciding on a specific product.

A Final Recommendation on Flooring Systems

With the various chemical resistant/ secondary containment products we offer, choosing the right products may seem like a daunting task. Leave it to us! We can help you select the right products and system that will best suit your facility’s needs. Contact us today for more information.