Application Instructions

Preparation  Concrete
Concrete must have a minimum 28 day cure prior to application. Remove any curing agent, form release materials, oils, wax, moisture or any material that may effect bonding. Clean and wash to remove contaminants and maintain pH 8.0-11.0. *Perform a Moisture Vapor Test before making the coating application on concrete. Can use the ASTC CMW 8000 to help reduce hydrostatic vapor pressure prior to application of the 5500.

Use a concrete (diamond) grinder on the surface to provide rough profile minimum 2 mils (remove slick, smooth surface so concrete feels like a 100 grit sandpaper). Review ASTM D4259 Abrading Concrete and ASTM F1869 Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission. Seal/repair all bug-holes, cracks and spalls, see ASTC data sheets on 830, 4034 and 3004 (joints).

Steel;
Near white sand blast per SSPC-SP10/NACE 2. Welds, seams, edges, etc. grind/blast smooth and provide 2 mil profile.  Priming 5500 for use on steel, use 7001 Primer, allow a set time of about one to two hours before coating with 5500.  Do not exceed 4 to 6 hours before primer is coated

Wood, Fiberglass:
Water-blast and dry. Fill wood and fiberglass cracks, splits, voids or holidays using a compatible filler ( 830).

Moisture Vapor Reduction: 5500 Polyurea Coating may be applied over other coatings or epoxy base coats.  If recoat window exceeded, will need to sand the basecoat to rough up the surface and provide a profile first prior to application of the 5500.  For the best applications over concrete surfaces a moisture vapor barrier like the CMW 8000 may be used as part of a "systems approach".

PRODUCT MIXING: READ CAREFULLY.  Improper Mixing May Result In Product Failure.  This Product Has A One To One Mix Ratio By Volume- Mix 1 part by volume Of Part A With 1 part by volume Of Part B. ( Example: to mix 1 gallon total 5500 to get started, measure 1/2 gallon Part A and mix with 1/2 gallon Part B).  Do not change the proportions and recommend do not mix more than you can use in 15 minutes.

Improper mixing may result in product failure.

For best mixing results and proper blending of parts A and B, recommend a Jiffy Mixer style drill mixer.

Mix parts A and B separately by themselves in a container one to two minutes with a Jiffy Mixer first before combing parts A and B together.  Clean mixing tool with solvent after mixing part A before mixing part B to prevent starting the chemical reaction and shortening cure time.  Then pour Part B into Part A while mixing at slow speed, 650 rpm until a uniform blend is evident and streak Free.  Avoid Whipping Air Into The Coating during mixing.  Mix completely for approximately one to two minutes.

Be sure to work the bottom and edges of the bucket to ensure the entire contents of each part are mixed. The colored veins need to disappear. If the two components are not mixed completely the epoxy will not cross-link well and can develop curing problems that will lead to a substandard coating.  In 5500 that is colored, improper mixing can result in uneven color when pigment is not fully blended.

It’s very important when mixing not to run the drill too fast or pump the mixing paddle up and down. Doing either of these this will introduce air into the mix which will be rolled into the coating and create air bubbles at the surface. The 5500 should have a nice even consistency without any color streaks.

Pour the 5500 out on the floor immediately after mixing and do not let the 5500 sit in the bucket.  Leaving it in the bucket for as little as a minute or two can shorten the pot life by half or more.

Adding Pigment

Pigment is shipped in a  separate container and added to the 5500 at the time of mixing.  Use 10-12 oz of pigment provided by ASTC per gallon of mixed 5500 (Example:  1/2 gallon Part A and 1/2 gallon Part B = 1 mixed gallon then add 10-12 oz pigment and for White color 12-14 oz pigment per gallon).

Do not use other pigments as they are not formulated with the proper base materials that are compatible with the 5500.  Do not overload the 5500 with pigment.

Important:  When adding pigment to the 5500 when it is used as a basecoat, it is helpful to add about 4 oz of Xylene per mixed gallon of product and pigment mix.  The addition of the solvent helps with the dispersion of the pigment and the penetration of the 5500 into the substrate.

Application

Application range; 30°F to 100°F. Apply the product using a roller or a notched squeegee or similar squeegee to move the product over the application area. Hot surfaces may accelerate gel time of the product.  Product should be back-rolled using a short nap roller, about ¼” to 3/8”. **Apply in thin films from 5,8 or 10 mils per coat. Do not apply thicker then 10-12 mils at one time.  Thicker coats will require more time to dry to achieve optimum film properties. Similarly, lower temperatures and higher humidity conditions will increase dry time of each coat.

Re-coat Time; apply a second coat as soon as the first coat can be walked on, 1 to 2 hours (press thumb hard into 5500 and if no thumb print, ready to recoat).  If recoat window is exceeded, sand lightly with a 100 grit sander to produce a profile, wipe with acetone and re-coat.  Freshly applied coatings should not be exposed to water for at least 2 hours, do not apply if rain is in the forecast. Allow the coating to cure for at least 24 hours prior to being placed into full service. Some low to moderate use can be achieved after 4 hours. Cure is affected by high humidity.

Slow Set version in high humidity may set in as little as 1.5 hours. The Slow Set version may take up to 8 hours to set in low humidity conditions and may require 3 to 5 days before vehicle traffic may have access to the coated area

Cleaning
Mixers, spray equipment, etc. can all be easily cleaned with water while product is in the uncured state. If the product is allowed to dry on a tool, scraping and solvent may be necessary to remove the material. Tools that experience periodic use such as agitator blades should be kept in water to prevent curing of residual material between uses.

Limitations:

• Pot life is effected by environmental temperatures and humidity.
• Do not use on wet surfaces or expose part A to moisture.
• Keep out of direct sunlight and store the product kits on wood pallets at room temperature. Use a Nitrogen blanket over unused product for proper storage and protection from humidity.
• Use 5500-HH in humid, warm conditions as cure time will be accelerated due to humidity and temperature, avoid using the 5500 Fast system in such conditions.
• Surface may be slippery when wet, recommend using an anti-slip additive in applications where floor can become wet.

Cold Storage System Applications:

CMW 8000, 5500 Polyurea Coating & 3003 Control Joint Filler When using the 8000 for moisture vapor reduction and densifying, allow the product application to set for 48 to 72 hours before the application of a 5500 seal coat. Make sure that the 8000 treated surface is thoroughly clean before the 8000 dries and assure no puddles or excess product remains on the surface. The application of the 5500 may follow the 8000 application after the proper cure time of the 8000.

For Cold Storage applications this cure procedure is important. After the application of the 5500 at ambient temperatures has been made over the treated concrete allow approximately 8 to 12 hours cure time. When the 5500 is cured the storage are may be brought down in temperature slowly avoiding thermal cold shock. For Slow System applications of the 5500 allow 3 to 5 days or more cure time before bringing down the temperature of the area.

The 5500 has been tested for use in temperatures below 20F with no adverse problems – at that temperature the concrete has dehydrated and it has also contracted or shrunk. Lower below zero temperatures may add only minor shrinkage to the slab. The concrete may not contract very much after that temperature and the coating will perform in cold temperatures. However, the concrete should be at or below 20F before any control joints are filled. If Control Joints are filled at warm ambient temperatures and the building is then brought down to a cold temperature the control joints will open as the concrete contracts and the joints become larger. Always fill control joints at cold temperatures or working temperatures using 3003 or 3004 (see data sheet on these products.)