PU concrete is mostly used for floors and surfaces that are subject to particularly high stress and therefore have to withstand a lot.
The floor covering, also known as polyurethane concrete, PU Concrete or polyurethane eton, is not only particularly resistant to physical and mechanical influences and abrasion, but also to chemicals and high temperature fluctuations.
The special hardness and resistance to shocks, friction, dirt, chemicals and temperature fluctuations results from the combination of mineral components (concrete) and synthetic elements (polyurethane).
Ideal for use in manufacturing, food and pharmaceutical industries.
We have summarized further information on this topic in this guide.
What is PU concrete?
In PU concrete, the above-mentioned properties, which are very advantageous for many floors and other surfaces, come to bear, which make it so popular in industry, business and also in the private or semi-professional sector.
Polyurethane concrete is so hard and resistant because the properties of the plastic or synthetic resin occur in conjunction with those of the concrete.
Concrete draws its strength and resistance (especially in the treated, smoothed and sealed state) from the mineral structure resulting from the hardening of the chemical compounds of cement, stone (sand or gravel) and water.
Pressure, fluctuating temperatures, impacts, liquids and dirt hardly matter to the building material. Treated accordingly, it is easy to clean.
What is polyurethane?
Polyurethanes are a group of synthetic materials that were first produced in Leverkusen in 1937 by a group of researchers around chemist Otto Bayer (*1902, †) – in the former premises of the I.G. Farben plant.
The colloquially abbreviated PU has the letter combination PUR as official abbreviation and combines plastics and synthetic resins.
These are prepared from dialcohols (also diols) or polyols with polyisocyanates by polyaddition reaction. The group of substances, some of which together with concrete form the PU concrete, owes its name to the urethane group in its molecular structure, which consists of a nitrogen-hydrogen compound, carbon monoxide and oxygen (-NH-CO-O-).
Advantages of polyurethane concrete
From laying the PU concrete to daily use, regular cleaning and maintenance, there are many advantages for processors and ultimately users of this building material. Here are some advantages of polyurethane concrete in an overview:
- The short curing time makes it ideal for quick conversions and extensions.
- Chemical-resistant makes it suitable for use in laboratories, practices and workshops.
- PUR concrete is impact-resistant, shockproof and resistant to scratches, abrasion and holes.
- Can be used in many facilities due to temperature resistance from -40°C to 130°C.
- Easy to clean and disinfect
- Non-slip and can be used according to standards such as DIN 51130 or BGR 181.
PU concrete is used in many branches of industry, not only in industry, but also in many smaller-scale trades.
The positive characteristics, the easy cleaning with achievement of important standards and the longevity are important factors. Here are some examples of the use of PU concrete / polyurethane concrete:
- Chemical industrial equipment
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Research, practices and laboratories
- foodstuffs industry
- e.g. butchery and bakery
- also wine press and brewery
- and Cheese and Dairy
Variations in PU concrete
The exact and specifiable properties of the PU concrete can vary, but are not very flexible due to the mortar content.
For example, the color tone can only be adjusted in a few different nuances. Also the mixing ratio of concrete with mortar and polyurethanes does not vary too much.
For this reason, there are no further subdivisions or gradations in the naming of the building material outside the processing, specialist building trades. Therefore, the building material is commonly referred to as PU concrete or polyurethane concrete, even if the proportions of the materials to be added can be easily changed and thus the properties can be adapted.
If you want to have a PU concrete floor laid, it is best to discuss the details directly with the specialist company.