October 22, 2018
Oils and other hydrocarbons can result in severe loss of adhesion from the substrate and / or between application coats. Mechanically preparing a contaminated surface before properly cleaning will only spread the oil contaminant and prevent adhesion.
These contaminants are not always visible to the naked eye but will illuminate with a black light (as shown above). Examining the substrate with a black light will assist you in determining the amount of cleaning and surface preparation required prior to installing a resinous flooring system.
Typically oils saturate the top 1/8 – 1/4 inch of a concrete substrate and are usually removed with an appropriate degreaser or enzyme cleaner.
Once the area is sound, dry, and clean the concrete must be mechanically prepared to a porous and profiled surface. This will promote a better adhesion at the bond line.
Rob Pacheco Jr.
Technical Manager – Northeast