Ancamine® 2858 – High-performance solution for hot climates
During this time, average temperatures can soar to 40 °C, reaching highs of 55 °C and are often accompanied by high humidity levels nearing 90 percent. Other regions, including Southern Europe, are also experiencing consistently increasing summer temperatures.
In these high temperatures, epoxy flooring applications face unique challenges as it is essential to balance adequate time for handling and application with fast cure speeds to ensure walkability on the floor. Increased reactivity between resin and hardener at high temperatures limits the so-called working time or pot life. Typically, for optimal productivity a pot life of 30 to 45 minutes is desired, alongside a moderate induction time of over 10 minutes. Additionally, flooring formulations must also exhibit high carbamation resistance due to elevated humidity levels. Addressing these challenges is vital for developing effective and durable flooring solutions in our changing climate.
Benefits at a Glance
- Extended pot life specifically designed for hot climates
- Excellent carbamation resistance and adhesion to wet concrete
- Low viscosity for excellent wetting performance
- Optimal handling and rapid hardening for efficient workflow
Balancing pot life with enhanced curing performance
Ancamine® 2858 is a newly developed curing agent for epoxy primers, specifically engineered for high-temperature climates. Its curing profile with standard liquid epoxy resins (LER) allows for easy handling and application at 40 °C and above. At this temperature, the pot life, as determined by the gelation time of the formulation is approximately 25 minutes. In comparison with the best-in-class hardener for hot climates, Ancamine® 2646M, Ancamine® 2858 extends the gelation time by 5 minutes at 40 °C. This improvement is even more pronounced at 30 °C, where Ancamine® 2858 achieves a pot life of 55 minutes, compared to the 30 minutes of the current offering.
Gelation time of different Ancamine hardeners cured with a DGEBA
In addition to a longer pot life, the curing of the floor coatings as measured by shore D hardness development is also extended with Ancamine® 2858. Typically, a shore D hardness of 40 – 50 is targeted for walkability, which is achieved after roughly 6 hours at 40 °C. This means that the topcoat could still be applied within the same working shift. Full through cure, corresponding to a final shore D hardness level of 80, is reached after 24 hours. Ancamine® 2858 effectively combines extended pot life with acceptable hardness development.
Engineered for humidity resistance: The ideal choice for hot climates
In addition to its tailored cure profile, Ancamine® 2858 is also formulated to withstand high humidities with low carbamation and superior adhesion to wet concrete. Handling and application are further facilitated by its low hardener viscosity of 100 – 400 mPas which enhances the wetting of the concrete in primer applications. The recommended parts per hundred resin (phr) ratio is at 50 parts per of Ancamine® 2858 to 100 parts of LER which allows for easy mixing but also low cost in use.
These exceptional performance benefits make Ancamine® 2858 the ideal choice for floor coating primers in hot climates. With a Gardner color rating of a maximum of 12, it is particularly recommended as a cost-economic hardener for primer applications, dark topcoats, or pigmented screeds and mortars.
More information on Ancamine® 2858 can be found in the technical data sheet.