CONTENTS

Application and Maintenance.

1. Low Gloss
2. Hazing / Re-coat
3. Levelling
4. Tackiness
5. Adhesion
6. Powdering
7. The Substrate

Maintenance Problems.

1. Premature loss of Gloss

2. Swirling
3. Dirt pick-up
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH 4. Summary
5. Maintenance
POLYMER FLOOR POLISHES
Ecwamix Chemical Systems
 ACRYLIC POLYMER FLOOR SEALERS
APPLICATION & MAINTENANCE

While there is always the possibility of an Improperly

Formulated batch of polish reaching the end user,
Improved Quality Management Techniques have greatly
reduced the number of errors in production. Experience
shows that most problems with floor polish break down
into two areas:
A) Application, the process of getting the polish
onto the floor.
B) Maintenance, the results that occur when
inappropriate procedures damage an initially excellent
looking floor. These areas will be the focus of our
attention.

APPLICATION PROBLEMS

In this section, we refer to conditions that may be observed upon application of polish to a New floor or
an Existing floor which has been stripped or otherwise prepared for the application of one or
more coats of polish.
Reduced Gloss Normal Gloss

1.Low Gloss
The most common cause of low initial gloss is
Improper Floor Preparation. Inadequate stripping
and/or rinsing will leave residue that interferes with
the film formation process of the polish, resulting in
reduced gloss. The practice of using floor
"neutralizers" can leave the floor coated with
residual acid, which reacts with the alkaline
components in the polish, causing instability and
improper film formation. Neutralizers are not
recommended with today's products.
Occasionally low gloss is the result of a Very Porous Substrate.
Additional polish coats, or the use of an effective sealer will be helpful
in this situation. A well-formulated sealer is designed to have superior
"hold out" over porous substrates. Its use as a base coat will assist in
building gloss.

Poor Recoat can also interfere with the gloss development of a floor
polish. When investigating complaints of low gloss, one should try
to differentiate between a recoat problem and other possible Microscopic View of Porous Substrate
causes.

“Recoat problems can result from

inadequate drying conditions
or an interaction with the substrate”

2. Hazing/Recoat

The development of a haze on the polish film is a complex

problem, which can usually be traced to the Environmental
Conditions during Application. All polish formulations have a
"window of use", based on Temperature and Relative Humidity.
Some formulations may look great at 70°F (21°C) / 50% RH, but
will not function well at 80°F (27°C) / 80% RH.

In a Polymer Floor Polish/Sealer, the volatile components, namely:

water, coalescents, and ammonia from the zinc complex are
designed to evaporate in a certain order and at specific rates to
optimize film formation. Extremes in temperature and humidity will
change the rate and order of evaporation of these components.

“In high humidity conditions

the slow rate of water evaporation
will leave an insufficient amount of coalescent available
to form a properly fused film.”
Hazing/Recoat Cont.…….
Several different types of "haze" can develop upon application. One type could be described as a
"Light Ghosting" on the floor surface. This type of haze is usually caused by low molecular weight
material, such as surfactants, that have migrated to the surface. Generally, this material is easily
removed by buffing, and does not permanently damage the film.

Another haze problem that can occur is a

“Graying or Dulling” of the film. This type of haze Light Ghosting
is not removable with buffing and is evidence that the
underlying film has been damaged by recoating too
quickly for the ambient environmental conditions.
Under unfavorable drying conditions more time is
needed between coats. As the number of coats
increases, the greater film thickness will retain more
moisture leading to surface irregularities and
unsightly haze. Under high humidity conditions more
drying time should be allowed between coats as the
number of applications increases.

Occasionally a haze can develop in a polish under the best of drying conditions. This is usually the
result of an Incompatibility between the Polish and the Substrate, or a Contaminant on the floor.
For instance, the floor may be coated with residue from ice melt, which is incompatible with most
polishes and results in a dull film. In addition, not all sealer/finish combinations are compatible. Care
should be taken to select the right companion product.

3.Leveling
Poor leveling is typically due to a Residue on the Floor. Any
oily material left on the floor will inhibit the polish from leveling
properly. Culprits such as commonly used furniture polish or
Oil Residue dust mop treatments can negatively affect leveling. The
Surface Energy of a given substrate will also have an effect on
the leveling properties of a product. Certain substrates must be
investigated carefully to assure that the floor polish will level
properly.
4.Tackiness
Short term tackiness is usually due to inadequate drying conditions, which can generally be improved by
longer dry times and better air movement. Care should be taken to ensure that the polish is completely
dry before returning furniture, particularly in closed areas such as classrooms. As mentioned in the
section on hazing, the time required for the drying process escalates exponentially with increasing coats
rather than linearly, because more water is entrapped by the underlying coats.

5.Adhesion
Adhesion can be a serious problem, particularly on Mineral Surfaces and Specialty Substrates, such
as Urethane and Polypropylene. To remedy these situations, specialty sealers are available that are
designed to adhere to difficult substrates. When coating mineral floors, the application of one or two
coats of sealer followed by several coats of polish will usually result in an attractive and serviceable
floor. Here again, care should be taken to allow adequate dry time between coats.

“Properly formulated polishes

should not have a problem on
most standard resilient tile floors.

If the polish is having difficulty adhering to an Older

Floor, it is most likely that something has been spilled on
the floor prior to the application of the polish. As always,
removal of any foreign material on the floor is essential
before applying polish.

In some instances, the problem may not be adhesion,

but rather film deterioration due to plasticizer
absorption by the substrate. Specific questions about
the substrate and its preparation should be the first step
in determining the nature of the problem.
6. Powdering
While this problem is usually considered in the maintenance category, excessive powdering can also
indicate improper film formation and may be described in different ways. Comments may be that the
product is "walking off the floor", or has poor durability. In some cases the product will generate
excessive "grinding dust" while buffing. These are all descriptive of poor film fusion.

A major impediment to good film formation is Low Temperature during Application of the polish. The
emulsion polymers used in formulating floor polishes have Minimum Film Formation Temperatures
(MFT) well above room temperature. As discussed earlier, plasticizers and coalescents are used to reduce
the MFT of the polish so that film formation will occur at floor surface temperatures as low as 50°F (10°C).
If for some reason the temperature of the floor falls below the MFT of the polish, a properly fused film will
not form.

Film Formation Process

The temperature of the floor can be affected by a number of conditions.

A concrete slab floor on grade will conduct the heat away quickly,
leaving the surface of the floor at a much lower temperature than the
air at eye level. There have been many cases where a product
performed well on the upper floors of a building, but the ground floor
showed a powdering problem. The phenomenon known as evaporative
cooling will also reduce the temperature of the floor as the polish dries.
If fans are used to accelerate the drying process, proper film formation
can be inhibited by evaporative cooling.

The Substrate can also have a negative effect on the film formation of the system. Resilient tile with a
high filler content, or older linoleum can absorb some of the coalescents and plasticizers from the polish,
thus reducing the amount available for film formation. As a result of this coalescent/plasticizer depletion,
the MFT of the system will rise and possibly reach a point above the temperature of the floor.

“Substrate is a general term that means

any surface below another surface but which,
in the home remodeling world, most often refers
to the stabilizing layer of material directly beneath the finish floor”
In such circumstance, the polish will develop a severe case of powdering. The use of a properly
formulated sealer before applying polish is generally effective in remedying this condition. It is important
to remember that the MFT of a polish is not an exact temperature. There can be a 3° to 6°F (2° to 3°C)
range where a finish will start to lose optimum film formation characteristics.

When coating a floor with a surface temperature near the MFT

of a polish, a glossy film may form. This film, however, will not
be strong enough to withstand heavy traffic or maintenance
operations such as high-speed buffing. In a matter of days, a
complaint will be received that "the polish is blowing off the
floor".

Powdering due to poor film formation

B: MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS

1.Premature Loss of Gloss

At times, a product will exhibit a sudden and significant
drop in gloss after having been down for a week or two.
This is usually an indication that some Foreign Material
has Contaminated the floor. Such materials include
furniture polish, dust mop treatments, ice melt
chemicals and the overuse of cleaners, maintainers
or spray buffs. Reduction in gloss can also be the
result of an Adverse Response to Buffing.

Generally this is a uniform dulling of the floor as a result

of micro scratching, which appears as unsightly swirl
marks.
Micro scratching Loss of gloss due to micro scratching
2.Swirling
Swirling is a condition traditionally associated with the Response of a Polish to Buffing. Polishes are
designed to respond to a specific pad, pad speed and pad pressure combination. The polish supplier
will usually recommend the buffing combination needed to achieve the best results. Buffing a polish with
the wrong combination will fail to produce the desired appearance.

When buffing or burnishing a floor the polish surface is

abraded and heat is generated. The relative amount of
each is determined by the pad and the equipment used.
Coarse pads are very open and primarily abrade the
polish, while softer pads will have more surface area
and will generate more heat. This heat will cause some
movement of the thermoplastic components of the
finish. The polish formulation will determine which type
of pad and buffing equipment produce the best results.

Swirling as a result of polishing
Buffing with an overly aggressive pad can result in "micro
scratches", usually in a semicircular pattern. The end-user
should evaluate a softer pad, and/or a lighter pressure setting
on the machine. Conversely, a softer pad will have more contact
with the floor, which generates more heat, potentially damaging
the film. As can be seen, instructions regarding the proper use
of a polish are very critical and must be clearly communicated to
the end user. Occasionally a polish will develop a buffing
problem over time. This can be due to excessive use of a
maintainer/spray-buff, or an aggressive detergent cleaner which
alters the surface of the finish. Proper maintenance procedures
which include following the manufacturer's instructions will avoid
this type of problem.
3.Dirt Pick-Up
Dirt pick-up problems are usually described as a Dirt Pick up Displayed as “Dark Spots”
Darkening or Yellowing of the floor.
This discoloration can be uniform in a given area, or
be seen as "splotchy" dark spots.
Such problems occur for several reasons, but are
generally associated with Inappropriate
Maintenance Procedures. Softer polishes that are
designed to be UHS burnished frequently may have
dirt pick-up problems, if used in areas that are not
cleaned regularly.

The Misuse of Maintainers can lead to dirt pick-up

problems. Polymer containing maintainers can
be excellent for restoring a trafficked floor.

“However, if the floor is not properly cleaned

before application,
trapped dirt can leave the floor
looking darker”

Maintainers containing permanent plasticizers will soften the polish if

overused. This practice will lead to discoloration as the softened polish
can no longer effectively repel dirt. Tackiness and soiling of the polish
surface can also develop over time due to plasticizer migration from a
highly plasticized substrate.

“Any material that softens the polish

film will potentially lead to a
dirt pick-up problem”
 SUMMARY

Today's modern Floor Polish Formulations are Complex mixtures of Polymers, Waxes,
Surfactants and other Additives that are designed to work together under a wide variety of
conditions. But even the very best formulations can develop problems depending upon application
conditions and the practices employed to maintain the polished flooring.

In order to eliminate most of the problems associated

with the Formulation & Manufacture of Acrylic Floor Polymer
Polish/Sealer, we, at ECWAMIX Chemical Systems have
developed an easy, cost effective, 3-Step Formulation
Additive Package : Floor PRO .

This product allows the inexperienced/experienced

manufacturer to blend together any true activity(up to 25%
Active) Acrylic Polymer Floor Polish/Sealer in 3 easy
steps(see the Floor PRO Technical Data Sheet).

Please note the following general points when Preparing a Substrate and Applying an Acrylic
Polymer Floor Polish/Sealer:

1.PREPARATION: For best results, Strip/Remove Dirt, Grease and

Old Sealer/Polish off the floor with an Approved Ammoniated or Non -
Ammoniated Floor Stripper, making sure to follow the Manufacturers
Instructions.

- Rinse Floor thorough with Clean Water to Remove the Floor Stripper.
Allow to Dry. Make sure all
Polymer Floor Sealer/Polish is Removed.

2. APPLICATION: Apply Ecwa FLOOR POL 25(or any Dilution

Thereof), Evenly and Thinly in One
Direction, using a Damp Mop or a Lambswool Applicator( Do NOT
RUB).Allow this Coat to Dry(Approx.
20 - 30 Min).

- Apply a Second and Third Coat( If Necessary), following the Same

Procedure. Make sure that no Streaks or Air Bubbles exist in the newly
applied Film. Coats will depend on the required Sheen and the Porosity of
Substrate
 - Allow All Coats of Film to dry for approx. 30 Minutes between
Applications, then allow to Cure for at least 12 Hours.

Finally, if necessary, Buff/Polish to the required Sheen with an

applicable Machine, ensuring to follow the Manufacturers Instructions.

3. MAINTENANCE:

Use a Damp Mop/Applicator to remove Dust and Light Soiling. By

the same method, apply an Approved Mop/Spray and Shine/Buff
Maintenance Product, making sure to follow the
Manufacturers Instructions.

“We certainly hope this provides you with a solid foundation

for understanding the complexities of one of today's most under-appreciated products”