Thermal Shock and Urethane Mortar Floors
Thermal shock is a term used to describe damage on a variety of surfaces resulting from sudden and severe temperature changes. Thermal shock is also known as thermal cycling.
For flooring, thermal shock can cause significant damage, including cracks, bubbles on the surface, peeling, and delamination.
What causes thermal shock?
Normal temperature swings, even freezing and thawing, don’t cause thermal shock. The temperature swing must be extremely quick and extremely high. Here are some examples of activities that may cause thermal shock on floors:
- Hot water washdowns or steam cleaning
- Chemical exposure
- Spills from high-temperature liquids
- Extreme temperature exposure like freezers or cold storage
Thermal shock isn’t a cause for concern for all, but there are certain industries that are most at risk.
- Food and beverage processing facilities, including canning and bottling
- Commercial or industrial kitchens with fryers, freezers, etc. including hospitality and food service or restaurants
- Chemical manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing or processing
- Biotechnology laboratories and research facilities
- Meat and poultry processing
- Cold storage facilities
- Vehicle maintenance areas
- Paper and pulp manufacturing
Urethane Mortar Flooring: Defense Against Thermal Shock
Urethane mortar, also known as cementitious urethane, is an extremely durable flooring solution that can withstand thermal shock. Applied over existing concrete floors, urethane mortar can better absorb the thermal cycling with reduced stress on the floor system. Urethane mortar is often non-porous, meaning that spills won’t be absorbed into the material, making it resistant to chemicals and acids. It also has slip-resistant properties and is easy to clean and maintain.
Urethane mortar floors can be a great solution for areas with thermal shock concern – without having to tear up the existing concrete.
