Is MMA Flooring the Right Choice for Your Facility?
Posted Aug 02, 2021 by Dave Scaturro
Key Takeaways
- MMA flooring is known for its fast cure time, which can help facilities get floors back in service much faster than many other systems.
- It performs well in demanding environments because it offers strong chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and broad temperature tolerance.
- MMA flooring can be a good fit for commercial and industrial spaces that need durable floors with quicker installation and recoating options.
An MMA flooring system is the preferred choice for various industries because of its rapid installation process, durability and abrasion resistance. But what exactly is MMA flooring?
Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) is an acrylic reactive resin which has a fast cure (less than one hour); has broad installation temperature range (0°F-90°F); is UV stable (interior/exterior); and has great chemical and abrasion resistance. It also has excellent multi-substrate adhesion (concrete, wood, tile) and intercoat adhesion. These characteristics have made acrylics quite popular for flooring manufacturers and established them as an overall great flooring system.
Fast Application
The quick cure time allows for a faster installation and job completion. To ensure proper cure and bond, most MMA coatings require a 14-16 wet film thickness during application/curing. The low viscosity of MMA resins allows the applicator to achieve the proper spread rate simply with an 18” paint roller for applied coats, and a pin or gauge rake set at ~1/8” for self-level applications.
A faster cure time enables the flooring contractor to complete more projects within various industries including: retail and food preparation in supermarkets, healthcare labs and restrooms, kennels, hospitality and entertainment, industrial and food and beverage facilities.
Temperature Resistant
The material is designed for a wide range of indoor and outdoor applications in commercial, industrial, and institutional settings. Reactive resins will cure in cold temperatures as low as -20º F. They are UV stable and thermal resistant. Whether industrial or decorative, MMA is built to last and is easy to recoat.
Less Odor
Heavy and uncomfortable odors are almost a non-issue as exhaustive air movement is required on MMA installations. MMA vapor is heavier than air and requires a little coaxing from a high speed fan to be vented away from the surface of the coating. High-speed fans set at one or two strategic spots are usually enough for engineering controls to ensure a smooth application and proper curing.
Overall, MMA flooring’s many benefits include: exterior applications, quick setting, excellent chemical resistance, abrasion resistance and UV stability. Give Alpine a call and we will show you the best flooring options for your high-traffic commercial area.
