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Trial Number 7

Client Number 244

Project Number 1

Trial Purpose:

To evaluate drying times for additional floor finishes.

Date Run:

06/21/2005

Experiment Procedure:

The moisture content at the time of testing will influence results due to the hydroscopic nature of the base materials. Therefore, efforts must be taken to ensure that the moisture content and temperature remain constant during the evaluation period. Ideally, the sample floor should be kept at 65+/-1% relative humidity and 68+/-6 F.

During laboratory testing, conditions were slightly drier, 40% relative humidity, but the temperature was within the given temperature range ~70 F).

The flooring material supplied was Hardwood flooring made from Red Oak. The boards were ¾” thick, 2 ¼” wide and cut into 8” sections. Some pieces of the flooring had to be sanded prior to making initial thickness readings to remove residual packing tape adhesive.

Three coupons were coated with a supplied floor finish according to the manufacturers’ specifications. The finish was applied using a 1” Pure Bristle 1500 paint brush. To ensure consistent coating application, the finish was leveled off using a 10 mils Precision Gage & Tool Co Dow Film Caster. Three coats were used for each floor finish as this was common number of coating layers suggested by the various manufacturers. Each coating layer was allowed to dry for 2 hours prior to the application of the next coat. Completed coupons were allowed to sit for a minimum period of 24 hours before performance evaluations were conducted.

During the sample preparation with floor finish, drying times were monitored. Observations were made after the first coat at every 10 minutes until the finish was dry to the touch. The amount of drying completed during each time interval was estimated and recorded. Subsequent coats were analyzed in the same manner. Drying times for each finish were compared to each other.

Trial Results:

Observations made were based on the approximate area that looked and felt dry. 

First Coat 10 20 30 40 50 60
Capitol Hydro 202 Satin 60 80 95-100 100    
AFM Safecoat Polyureseal BP Satin 40 90 100      
AFM Safecoat Polyureseal BP Gloss 20 60 85 95 95-100 100
Second Coat 10 20 30 40    
Capitol Hydro 202 Satin 40 80-90 100      
AFM Safecoat Polyureseal BP Satin 40-60 85 95-100 100    
AFM Safecoat Polyureseal BP Gloss 25 80 95 100    
Third Coat 10 20 30 40    
Capitol Hydro 202 Satin 40 80 95 100    
AFM Safecoat Polyureseal BP Satin 30 65 80 100    
AFM Safecoat Polyureseal BP Gloss 40 65 85 100    

Success Rating:

A cleanliness study, addressing only various analytical techniques.

Conclusion:

All three products had similar dry times. Only one product need over 40 minutes to dry during the first coating. Additional coats did not dry as fast as the products in the previous set of floor finishes.

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