SMOOTHING UNDERLAYMENTS | SPONSOR
SMOOTHLY DOES IT | TREMCO ILLBRUCK
Whilst the evolution of smoothing compounds may not seem to be the sexiest subject on earth, it is, none-the-less, worthy of consideration. Tremco illbruck talks us through why their many smoothing underlayments products remain hugely popular in the UK.
Two-part latex underlayments remain popular in the UK largely due to their flexibility in general for use in medium duty areas under a variety of floorcoverings. This highlights their ability to be applied in many instances over non- water soluble adhesive residues and non-porous substrates such as flooring grade asphalt and metal. The other key advantage of some of the high solids latex underlayments is that in many cases priming is not required. Latex underlayments appear to have been discarded in most other parts of the world where water based, high strength systems are preferred.
We launched our first latex underlayments in the year 2000, in response to our customers’ ‘one stop shop’ (or ‘one throat
to choke!’) requirements. SX300 (formerly Unitex) was launched to provide a comprehensive solution to numerous applications and does not require a primer when applying over non-water soluble adhesive residues, Tremco surface membranes or asphalt. We were subsequently asked to provide a low odour and ammonia free version which was successfully launched in 2009 and has grown from strength-to- strength. SX300 NA has all the benefits of the SX300 original – without the smell!
We have followed the same exceptional performance criteria and manufacturing principles to our range of water based compounds. SX200 (formerly Unismooth) is designed for use with textile and resilient floor coverings
in high point loading areas, including hospital operating theatres and retail sales floors, and CS375 (formerly Uniflow) is suitable as a wearing surface, at minimum of 6mm thickness, in heavy industrial applications such as food processing and manufacturing plants and is also suitable under our range of epoxy and polyurethane decorative resin systems.
Over subsequent years, we added SX250 Unibase, a moisture tolerant base screed which can be applied at 3-50mm in one application, and SX400 Unispeed, a rapid drying repair mortar which is often used for filling imperfections and repairing staircases. SX400 can be applied at 3-70mm in one application and can be open to vehicular traffic within two hours.
A very cost effective self- smoothing water based option is SX220, which can be applied up to 10mm under resilient and textile floorcoverings in light to medium traffic areas. SX220, like SX200, SX250 and CS375, can be pumped for an exceptional finish. As with most water based smoothing compounds, priming is usually required and our Sales and Technical Team can advise which of our primers would be applicable by project and
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provide free of charge written specifications.
Over recent times, we have been working with our global partners to develop more environmentally friendly products. In 2012, we launched our first OPC free smoothing compounds using over 30% recycled materials. Once again, our customers have responded very positively as they have found these to have remarkable flow and performance characteristics. SX200 and SX100 fibre reinforced smoothing compounds use this technology and both are suitable for pump applications.
Whilst the economy remains fragile, it is even more important that Tremco illbruck differentiates itself by utilising our global partners and sister companies. It is our intention to continue enhancing and improving our range of smoothing compounds using this, and other technologies, to provide the market with real choices. This, of course, also applies to our range of adhesives, resin flooring and damp-proof membranes.
www.tremco-illbruck.co.uk
www.tomorrowsflooring.com
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