The effect of different mineral additives on non-wettability and surface energy of epoxy floor coating

In this study, the effect of type and amount of mineral additives on non-wettability and surface free energy of epoxy based floor coating material have been examined. Three different types of waste products (fly ash, fume silica and blast furnace slag) and limestone were used as mineral additive. Contact angle with water of each produced epoxy material with and without additive were measured by using sessile drop method to determine the hydrophobicity of the materials. For surface energy calculations of epoxy materials, their contact angles first were measured by using three polar (water, ethylene glycol and formamide) and one apolar (diiodomethane) liquid and their surface energies were then calculated according to these contact angles data by using Fowkes approach. Test results show that mineral additives have more or less decreased the hydrophobicity and increased surface energy. It was also determined that in additives fly ash has minimum and limestone has maximum effect on hydrophobicity and surface energy properties of epoxy.