CHEMICAL RESISTANCE OF HIMFLOOR FLOOR SYSTEMS
In industrial applications, it is often a requirement that Himfloor floor systems should be resistant to chemical damage. The adjacent table shows resistance to a number of commonly occurring chemicals.
The Himfloor products are permanently immersed for a set period at temperatures of 20°C and 35°C and are then tested for resistance and hardness.
As a supplement to the chemicals listed in the table, general information on the chemical resistance of synthetic resin-based floors is given below.
| Dilute solutions (up to a maximum of 10% of weight) at room temperature may remain in permanent contact with epoxy resin and polyurethane floors. Examples are sulphuric acid (H2SO4) hydrochloric acid (HCl) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4). |
Oxidizing acids to a concentration of 5%, such as nitric acid (HNO3), hydrobromic acid (HBr) and chloric acid (HCl03) may remain in permanent contact with synthetic resin based floor treatments.
Organic acids with a low molecular weight
These acids, such as stearic acid and palmitic acid, are well tolerated by all Himfloor floor treatments.
Organic acids with a high molecular weight
All the completions of grounds HIMFLOOR | NITOFLOR support these acids well, like the stearic acid and the palmitic acid.
The majority of acids of this type do not affect the floors at room temperatures. Examples of naturally occurring acids are malic acid, citric acid and tartaric acid.
Products with basic properties (alkalis etc.)
Products with an alkaline reaction and hydroxides at room temperatures are well tolerated by epoxy resin based floor treatments but less well by polyurethane/resin based floor treatments. Examples are sodium hydroxide (NaOH), lime powder (CaOH2) and soda (Na2CO3).
All synthetic resin based floor systems have a good resistance to all salts, with the exception of the spontaneously decomposing salts of oxidizing acids (e.g. chlorates, chlorites and iodides) and soluble fluorides.
Colourings used in the food industry can affect synthetic resin floor treatments superficially.
Solvents, liquid fuels, oils and grease lubricants
| Simple aliphatic solutions such as white spirit and petrol are not harmful to synthetic resin based floor treatments. However other solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, ether and alcohol may damage synthetic resin based floor treatments. Synthetic floor treatments are not resistant to chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, methylene chloride, chloroform and alcohol ethers, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate. Liquid fuels and normal lubricating oils and greases are not harmful to synthetic resin based floor surfaces. |