Under the dual waves of smart cities and sustainable development, waterborne epoxy floor paint is no longer limited to ground protection, but has become an important carrier of intelligent and ecological building space. This article analyzes its future potential from the perspective of application scenario expansion and industrial chain collaboration.

 

"Breaking the Boundary" and Deepening of Application Scenarios

1.Supporting Upgrades of Industry 4.0

The high-voltage and anti-static requirements of smart factories for floors have spawned customized solutions. For example, semiconductor workshops use conductive waterborne epoxy paint, and the electrostatic dissipation efficiency reaches 10^6-10^9Ω, ensuring the safety of precision instruments.

In the field of warehousing and logistics, high wear-resistant coatings (hardness above 5H) are combined with AGV robot navigation systems to achieve seamless connection between floor functions and automated equipment.

 

2 .Green transformation of urban public spaces

Subway stations, hospitals and other places use anti-slip and antibacterial waterborne epoxy paint to reduce public safety accidents. In a renovation project of a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, the construction period of water-based paint was shortened by 30%, and it can be put into use 7 days after the operation.

The commercial complex improves the aesthetics of the space through color customization (such as Morandi color system), and uses high-gloss topcoat to reduce lighting energy consumption, which meets the requirements of green building certification.

 

Industry chain collaboration: full-chain innovation from raw materials to services

 1. Green revolution of upstream raw materials

Biological-based epoxy resin replaces petroleum-derived ingredients to reduce carbon footprint. The corn stalk extract-based resin developed by a certain company has a bio-based content of 30% and has been certified by the EU Ecolabel.

The addition of nanofillers (such as graphene) improves the thermal conductivity and UV resistance of the coating, extending the outdoor service life to more than 15 years.

 

2 .Digital transformation of downstream services

AR simulation technology is introduced on the construction end, and customers can preview the floor effect in real time and adjust the design plan to reduce the rework rate. A certain platform optimizes the material ratio through AI algorithm and reduces construction loss by 20%.

The operation and maintenance end relies on the Internet of Things platform to provide floor health monitoring and preventive maintenance services, forming a new "product + service" profit model.

 

 Future challenges and strategic choices

1 .Balance between cost and performance

Price fluctuations of raw materials for water-based epoxy floor paint (such as epoxy resin) affect profit margins, and companies need to control costs through large-scale production and supply chain optimization.

In terms of performance, further improve weather resistance (such as -30℃ to 80℃ temperature difference adaptation) to expand outdoor applications49.

 

 2. Standardization and brand internationalization

Domestic industry standards are not yet unified, and it is necessary to learn from European and American ASTM standards to establish a mandatory certification system to eliminate market chaos.

Brands going overseas need to break through technical barriers, such as entering the North American market through UL certification, or cooperating with local contractors to provide localized services.

 

Although oil-based floor paint has excellent performance, its environmental issues are becoming the main bottleneck of development. The following is an analysis of its challenges and transformation directions:

1. Environmental shortcomings: VOC and health risks

Oil-based paint uses toluene and xylene as solvents, and releases a large amount of irritating odors and harmful gases (such as formaldehyde) during construction. Long-term exposure may cause respiratory diseases. A typical case is that the garage of a residential community in Shenzhen used solvent-based floor paint, which caused collective discomfort to the owners and was eventually forced to replace it with water-soluble paint.

2. Policy restrictions and market shrinkage

Many places have issued policies to restrict the use of solvent-based paints (such as Shenzhen’s ban since 2015), pushing the industry to transform to water-based paint. The flammability of oil-based paint also increases storage and transportation risks.

3. Alternatives: The rise of water-based paint

Water-based paint uses water as a solvent, has extremely low VOC emissions, and has a hardness of up to 4H (higher than 2H for oil-based paint), achieving a balance between wear resistance and environmental protection. Some construction teams adopt the "water-bottom oil-surface" strategy to combine the advantages of both to reduce costs.

4. The future of oil-based paint: technical improvement and scene segmentation

Low-VOC formula research and development: Develop products that meet the new national standards by reducing the proportion of harmful solvents;

Special scene retention: such as extreme wear resistance requirements or temporary projects, still relying on the performance advantages of oil-based paint

As a traditional floor coating, oil-based floor paint still occupies an important position in specific fields due to its unique properties. The following is an analysis of its core advantages and applicable scenarios:

1. Excellent physical properties

Due to the addition of organic curing agent, the paint film hardness of oil-based floor paint can reach a high level (such as 2H standard), and its wear resistance and compression resistance are particularly outstanding, which is suitable for heavy-duty industrial areas such as logistics warehouses, mechanical workshops, etc. Its high-gloss surface can also enhance the beauty of the floor and is suitable for commercial spaces that require visual effects.

2. Mature technology and construction experience

After years of development, the construction process of oil-based paint has been widely mastered. Experienced construction teams can complete the coating quickly and have more flexibility in handling complex base surfaces.

3. High cost-effectiveness

In terms of material cost, oil-based paint is usually lower than water-based floor paint, especially the topcoat part. For projects with limited budgets and low environmental requirements, oil-based paint is more economical.

4. Stable chemical resistance

Oil-based paint has strong tolerance to oil and chemical solvents, and is suitable for environments that are easily exposed to corrosive substances, such as auto repair shops and chemical plants.

5. Irreplaceable application scenarios

Although environmental protection policies are becoming stricter, oil-based paint is still irreplaceable in the following scenarios:

Environment with high humidity or large temperature difference: Oil-based paint has strong penetration and can adapt to some wet base surfaces.

Short-term high-frequency use requirements: such as temporary exhibition halls or rapid renovation projects, because it can be put into use after drying.

 

 

 

The construction of water-based epoxy floor paint requires steps and details, and standardized operation can create a high-quality floor. Before construction, the base needs to be fully treated. First, use a grinder to grind the floor to remove defects such as sanding and hollowing, so that the base is flat and has a certain degree of roughness to facilitate subsequent attachment. At the same time, sweep and vacuum to ensure that there is no dust or oil residue on the ground.

 

When applying waterborne epoxy floor paint primer, mix the waterborne epoxy floor paint primer evenly according to the proportion and apply it evenly with a roller or spray gun. The primer can enhance the adhesion between the ground and the topcoat. The application should ensure that there is no omission. The drying time depends on the ambient temperature and humidity, and generally takes 8-12 hours.

 

Then proceed with the mid-coat construction. Add an appropriate amount of quartz sand to the water-based epoxy mid-coat material and stir it. Use a trowel to scrape it to increase the strength and thickness of the floor. You can scrape it 1-2 times as needed, and polish it flat after each coat dries. Finally, the topcoat is applied. Roll or spray the prepared water-based epoxy floor paint evenly. Pay attention to the speed and strength during the operation to ensure that the paint surface is uniform and smooth. The topcoat gives the floor beauty and wear resistance. After completion, it needs to be maintained for 3-7 days. During this period, avoid heavy objects hitting it and sharp objects scratching it. After it is completely cured, it can be put into use.