Wear-Resistant, High-Gloss Flooring System from Sherwin-Williams Offer Contractors Ease of Applicati

Sherwin-Williams has announced the commercial launch of General Polymers 4686 and 4687, premium, ultra-high solids urethane floor coatings for commercial and industrial projects where superior finished appearance, high durability and fast return to service are all high priorities. 

In extensive field trials of the aliphatic polyurethane topcoats, which contain a reduced volatile organic compound level of less than 50 grams per liter (g/l), customers reported little or low residual solvent odor, while coating applicators note that the low viscosity formulation is extremely easy to brush and roll without leaving roller lines.   

Typical uses for the coating system include flooring in industrial and commercial facilities, manufacturing plants, institutional settings, laboratories, restrooms and locker rooms, and warehouses. The product was formulated in both clear (4686) and pigmented (4687) options for application at a range of film builds (2-6 mils DFT).  As a rule, 4686 is applied as a final topcoat over decorative, quartz or paint chip floors, while the 4687 would be used over an epoxy primer and/or an intermediate coat.

“Applied by qualified contractors, the flow and leveling properties of General Polymers 4686 and 4687 topcoats produce an exceptional high gloss finished appearance,” said Lonnie Salyers, Regional Marketing Segment Director for Flooring, North America, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. “Even better, these coatings can be placed into service in record time; dry-to-touch can be as low as 3-6 hours, light traffic is possible in less than a day, and within three days, the system is fully cured.” 

Salyers said the urethanes exceed the requirements of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), the most restrictive regulatory jurisdiction in the country for industrial coating air emissions. They also pass muster with protocols that address the unique Cleaning In Place demands of the pharmaceutical industry, and can be used to achieve credits under the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) green building program.

Other attributes of General Polymers 4686 and 4687 include resistance to abrasion, scratches and scuffs; UV stability; high color and gloss retention; and flexibility. Additional wear resistance and surface hardness can be achieved with the addition of HardTop, a water-based additive that is specially formulated to resist wear patterns in high traffic areas, while maintaining chemical and color stability.