Hychem GP — Epoxy binder for general purpose use

Prior to the application of HYCHEM GP, the substrate must be thoroughly prepared.

• The substrate must be clean and firm with a minimum compressive strength of 25MPa and a minimum surface tensile strength of 1.5MPa.
• Moisture content of the substrate must be below 5%.
• New concrete must be allowed to cure for minimum 28 days.
• In most instances, mechanical preparation is required to profile the surface e.g. CSP2.
• All dust, loose and friable material must be completely removed from all surfaces before application, preferably by vacuum.

It is important to note that even when the application environment is warm, products which have been stored in cold or cooler conditions should be pre-conditioned, ideally to 20-25°C, to ease mixing and application and help avoid other potential issues such as amine bloom or blushing. Applying a cold product in a warm environment is not recommended.

Mix HYCHEM GP resin & hardener at 3:1 by volume together using a helical mixer at a speed of 500 rpm for 3 minutes. As a primer HYCHEM GP can be diluted up to 15% with methylated spirits, xylene or MEK. Required dilution will depend on substrate porosity and environmental conditions. Only mix as much HYCHEM GP as can be applied within approx. 15 minutes (temperature dependant) to avoid exothermic reaction in the pot.

Pour mixed resin and hardener onto the floor and apply by roller at 4-7m²/L. If an overlay or product containing water is to be applied over HYCHEM GP, ensure sufficient film build (re-apply if the substrate is particularly porous) and broadcast to refusal with quartz or silica sand (beach finish).

Mix HYCHEM GP resin & hardener at 3:1 by volume using a helical mixer at 500 rpm for 3 minutes. Add silica flour e.g. Silica 60G, Silica 200G as required for good flow and ease of application e.g. 1kg silica flour to 1L HYCHEM GP. Only mix as much as can be applied within approx. 15 minutes.

Pour mixed resin and hardener onto the floor and apply by notched trowel or pin-rake. NB. porous substrates should be sufficiently primed first to avoid outgassing from the substrate.

Mix HYCHEM GP resin & hardener at 3:1 by volume using a helical mixer at 500 rpm for 3 minutes. As a mortar HYCHEM GP can be blended with aggregate. Aggregate size and ratio depend on the installation requirement e.g. scratch coat, screed, coving, grout, sub-fill.

Install according to the requirement e.g. trowel, coving trowel, hand trowel, pour etc. NB. a prime coat of HYCHEM GP should be applied first. Wet on wet application is best.

Temperature and the surrounding atmospheric conditions will play a part in the curing process of all resin products. Under conditions of low temperatures and high humidity the final cured surface finish can be adversely affected, potentially resulting in poor gloss retention, discoloration over time, poor overcoat ability and inter-coat adhesion. Quite often these conditions will result in the formation of a white film over the surface, often evident after contact with water. If this occurs, the existing coating will need to be abraded to completely remove the affected surface to ensure the adhesion of subsequent applications. In some cases, partial or complete re-priming may be necessary. Attention also needs to be paid to the substrate temperature, which should be at least 3-5 °C above the dew point during the curing phase. Industry standards recommend the accurate recording of environmental conditions such as substrate and air temperatures, humidity levels and dew point readings during both the application and curing processes. Full material warranties cannot be provided unless all the relevant data has been recorded accurately. If in doubt consult the HYCHEM technical department for advice.

Wear appropriate personal protection equipment. Gloves, eye protection, mask and overalls should be used during mixing and application.

Minimum 12 months from date of manufacture when stored under shelter at 25°C in the original un-opened container.

The packaging must be stored properly in original, unopened and undamaged sealed packaging, in dry conditions at temperatures between 5°C and 30°C.

HYCHEM GP is supplied clear. As with most epoxy finishes, surface yellowing may occur on exposure to UV light from the sun or an artificial source. Any such discolouration has no effect on the performance of the product.

• This product may only be used by experienced professionals.
• Freshly applied product must be protected from damp, condensation and water during the curing process.
• Ensure adequate ventilation during application and drying to avoid impaired reaction.
• Beware of condensation — the substrate and uncured floor must be at least 3°C above the dew point. If exposure to moisture occurs, the surface must be fully abraded to ensure no risk of amine bloom and subsequent delamination of topcoats.
• Coatings and overlays containing water must not be applied directly to the resin unless a sufficiently porous mortar has been installed or the surface has been fully broadcast with dry aggregate e.g. quartz or silica sand.
• Ensure consumption of material is uniform to achieve proper appearance, texture and consistent performance.
• Ensure the material is mixed and stirred properly. Incorrect mixing can lead to performance issues.
• If heating is required do not use gas, oil, paraffin or other fossil-fuel heaters. Use only electric-powered warm-air blower systems.
• The incorrect assessment and treatment of cracks may lead to reduced service life and reflective cracking.
• For consistent colour, ensure material and pigments from the same batch are used for the entire floor/space.
• It is recommended to complete job sheets recording batch numbers, application method, dilution, material used, and environmental conditions during application and curing.
• At low temperatures and low humidities (< 40% relative humidity), curing and recoat times will be affected.