Polyurethane floor finishes with hybrid performance

Abstract

VOC-compliant aqueous polyurethane floor coating compositions and components are provided. Embodiments include at least one organic solvent having a vapor pressure of less than 0.1 mm Hg under ambient conditions and a viscosity of less than 60 cps for at least three hours after being formed. The coating compositions exhibit application characteristics of acrylic floor coatings and durability characteristics of polyurethane floor coatings.

1 . A floor coating composition comprising:
 an aqueous dispersion of at least one polyurethane material and at least one matting agent selected from a wax, an alkali soluble emulsion, a hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsion and combinations thereof; and   a solvent system comprising no more than 1 wt % organic solvent having a vapor pressure of greater than 0.1 mm Hg at 20° C.,   wherein the composition has a viscosity of less than 60 cps under ambient conditions for at least three hours after the composition is formed.   
     
     
         2 . The coating composition of  claim 1  wherein the solvent system comprises at least one aprotic solvent. 
     
     
         3 . The coating composition of  claim 1  wherein the solvent system comprises at least one aprotic solvent having a vapor pressure of less than 0.1 mm Hg at 20° C. 
     
     
         4 . The coating composition of  claim 1  wherein the solvent system comprises at least one acetate solvent. 
     
     
         5 . The coating composition of  claim 1  wherein the coating composition has a viscosity of less than 60 cps for at least 6 hours after the composition is formed. 
     
     
         6 . The coating composition of  claim 1  wherein the coating composition comprises less than 5 wt % matting agent. 
     
     
         7 . The coating composition of  claim 1  wherein the coating composition comprises from 0.1 wt % to 3 wt % matting agent. 
     
     
         8 . The coating composition of  claim 1  wherein the coating composition comprises from 1.0 wt % to 3.0 wt % matting agent. 
     
     
         9 . The floor system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one matting agent comprises a wax. 
     
     
         10 . The floor system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one matting agent comprises a polyethylene wax, a polypropylene wax or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The floor system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one matting agent comprises a synthetic wax. 
     
     
         12 . The floor system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one matting agent comprises an alkali soluble emulsion, a hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsion or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A floor finish system comprising:
 a first component comprising at least one polyol or polyol derivative and at least one matting agent selected from a wax, an alkali soluble emulsion, a hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsion and combinations thereof; and   a second component including at least one polyisocyanate or polyisocyanate derivative;   wherein the first and second components are free of N-methylpyrrolidone and include no more than 1 wt % organic solvent having a vapor pressure of greater than 0.1 mm Hg at 20° C. based on the total weight of the first and second components; and   wherein if the first and second components are combined, the system has a viscosity of less than 60 cps under ambient conditions for at least three hours after the composition is formed.   
     
     
         14 . The floor finish system of  claim 13  wherein the first component comprises from 0.1 wt % to 3.0 wt % matting agent. 
     
     
         15 . The floor finish system of  claim 13  wherein the first component has a total solids content of less than 25 wt %. 
     
     
         16 . The floor finish system of  claim 13  wherein the second component comprises at least one aprotic solvent. 
     
     
         17 . The floor system of  claim 13  wherein the matting agent comprises a wax finish. 
     
     
         18 . A method of coating a floor comprising:
 applying at least one layer of a coating material to a floor surface, wherein the coating material has a viscosity of not more than 60 cps for at least 3 hours after the composition is formed, the coating material comprising:   an aqueous dispersion of at least one polyurethane material and at least one matting agent selected from a wax, an alkali soluble emulsion, a hydrophobically modified alkali soluble emulsion and combinations thereof; and   no more than 1 wt % organic solvent having a vapor pressure of greater than 0.1 mm Hg at 20° C. based on the total weight of the first and second components.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  comprising, prior to the applying step, combining a first component and a second component to form the coating material, the first component comprising an aqueous dispersion including at least one polyol material, and the second component including at least one isocyanate material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of burnishing the coated floor.