Glossary

C

Calcium Chloride Test Method
The recommended method for testing the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of a concrete slab. This method results in a quantitative measurement of MVTR in pounds per 1000 square feet over 24 hours. The industry standard is that a slab have a MVRT of 3 pounds or less per 1000 square feet of concrete in a 24-hour period before it is acceptable to apply an impervious floor topping.

Carbomate
A white, "milky" formation caused by the reaction of the amine component of an epoxy system to the presence of moisture or humidity during the curing process. The degree of whitening is proportionate to the water exposure. See also "Amine Blush."

Catalyst
An accelerator, activator or agent which chemically increases the rate of reaction in a coating.

Cathode
The negative terminal of an electrolytic cell, which, in the corrosion process, is protected and not attacked.

Cathodic Protection
The reduction or prevention of corrosion of a metal surface caused by making it cathodic. This is accomplished by using a sacrificial anode (such as in zinc rich coatings or galvanizing) or by using impressed current.

Caustic
A strong base or alkaline material.

Caustic Soda
A common name for sodium hydroxide, a strong base or alkali.

Cellosolve
Proprietary name for ethylene glycol monoethyl ether. A slow evaporating, water miscible, relatively strong solvent often used in epoxy coatings.

Cementitious Coatings
A coating containing Portland cement as one of its components.

Centipoise
One hundredth of a poise which is a unit of measurement for viscosity. Water at room temperature has a viscosity of 1.0 Centipoise.

Chalking
The formation of a friable powdery coating on the surface of a paint film generally caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation resulting in a loss of gloss.

Checking
Cracks in the surface of a paint film.

Chipping
Small pieces of paint removed from the surface, typically a sign of physical damage. Use of a surface tolerant primer for touch up followed by the same finish coat generally solves the problem.

Chips
Marble granules screened to various sizes used in thin-set terrazzo. The common sizes used in terrazzo are 0, #1, and #2. The term chips is also used to describe the colored quartz aggregate used in broadcast decorative flooring. See “Paint Chips.”

Chlorinated Hydrocarbon
A class of strong, fast evaporating, nonflammable solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride or trichloroethylene.

Chlorinated Rubber
A coating resin formed by the reaction of rubber with chlorine gas. Often used for chemical or water-resistant properties.

Clean and Dry
The requirement for Clean and Dry describes the condition of the surface prior to coating. The surface shall be clean, dry, and free of oil, grease, wax, form oils, and any other contaminant that may effect the adhesion of the coating. For best results and high performance requirements remove latencies and contaminants from precast and cast-in-place concrete by abrasive blasting or high pressure water blasting. Dry means that the substrate contains less then 15% moisture. Concrete should be cured at least 28 days and mortar joints at least 15 days @ 75 F and 50% RH.

See also: ASTM D 4263 - 83; ASTM D 4258 - 83; ASTM D 4259 - 83; ASTM D 4260 - 83; ASTM D 4261 - 83; ASTM D 4662 - 83

Cleaners
A detergent, alkali, acid or similar contamination removing material, which is usually water borne.

Coal Tar
A dark brown to black bituminous material produced by the destructive distillation of coal.

Coal Tar Epoxy
A coating in which the binder or vehicle is a combination of coal tar and epoxy resins.

Coalescence
The formation of resinous or polymeric material when water evaporates from an emulsion or a latex system, permitting contact and fusion of adjacent particles; fusing or flowing together of liquid particles.

Coat
The material applied to a surface in a single application to form a film when dry.

Coating System
A number of coats separately applied, in a predetermined order, at suitable intervals to allow for drying and curing, resulting in a completed job.

Cobwebbing
Premature drying of a coating during spraying causing a spider web effect.

Cohesion
The forces which bind the particles of a coating together into a continuous film.

Cold Rolled Steel
Low carbon, cold-reduced, sheet steel. Differs from hot rolled steel by the absence of mill scale.

Color Fast
Nonfading.

Color Retention
The ability of a coating to retain its original color during weathering or chemical exposure.

Combustible Liquid
Any liquid having a flash point at or above 100 F (37.8 C)

Compatibility
The ability to mix with or adhere properly to other coatings without detriment.

Concrete Engraving
Concrete Engraving is staining the concrete to give it color, then engraving (routing) out a pattern. The routed area is now uncolored, having the appearance of a grout line.

Conductive
The ability to conduct an electrical current. When this term is used in conjunction with resinous coating or toppings it means that the applied product will have an electrical resistance of less than 1,000,000 ohms (1 Megohm).

Conical Mandrel
An instrument used to evaluate a coating's resistance to cracking when bent over a specified radius.

Copolymer
Large molecules obtained by simultaneous polymerization of different monomers, as in vinyl copolymers.

Corrosion
The decay, oxidation or deterioration of a substance (steel, concrete, and others) due to interaction with the environment. See also "Rust"

Cracking
Splitting of a coating film, usually as a result of substrate movement or aging.

Craters
The formation of small bowl shape depressions in the coating film. Also, "Fisheyes." Most often caused by contaminants (oil, water, etc.) on the surface. May also be caused by applying coatings over an epoxy primer/coating that has an amine blush. (See “Blush”).

Cross Rolling
Rolling the first pass of a coating application in one direction and the second at a right angle to the first, decreasing lap marks and providing a more even film distribution.

Cross Spraying
Spraying the first pass in one direction and the second at a right angle to the first, providing more even film distribution.

Crosslinking
The setting up of chemical links between molecular chains to form a three dimensional network of connected molecules. The chemistry of two component resin systems.

CSP/Concrete Surface Profile
ICRI has identified nine distinct profile configurations that replicate degrees of roughness considered to be suitable for the application of sealers, coatings, or polymer toppings. The recommended method for achieving each profile is as follows:

CSP 1 (Acid Etching), CSP 2 (Grinding), CSP 3 (Light Shotblast), CSP 4 (Light Scarification), CSP 5 (Medium Shotblast), CSP 6 (Medium Scarification), CSP 7 (Heavy Abrasive Blast), CSP 8 (Scabbling), CSP 9 (Heavy Scarification, Milling)

Curing Agent
A hardener or activator added to a synthetic resin to develop the proper film forming properties.

Curtains
Long horizontal runs in a coating film that occur on vertical surfaces when a coating is applied too heavily.