Quartz broadcast epoxy floor systems use industrial silica aggregate (quartz) broadcast into the wet epoxy base coat to create a filled composite floor surface. The system is common in commercial kitchens, food processing, locker rooms, pool decks, and anywhere that anti-slip performance under wet conditions is required along with the chemical resistance and cleanability of epoxy.
Silica Aggregate Properties
Industrial silica used in quartz broadcast systems is high-purity crystalline silicon dioxide (SiO₂), typically 99%+ purity, sized in controlled gradations from #16 mesh (coarse, ~1.2 mm) to #30 mesh (medium, ~0.6 mm) to #80 mesh (fine, ~0.18 mm). Quartz is chemically inert, extremely hard (Mohs 7, harder than most flooring abrasives), UV-stable, and compatible with epoxy and polyaspartic binders. The specific aggregate gradation determines the texture level, anti-slip coefficient, and surface porosity of the finished floor.
System Construction
A full quartz broadcast system uses a primed substrate, followed by a base coat epoxy applied at 15–25 mils, followed by a full broadcast of quartz aggregate to rejection (complete coverage, aggregate standing on end). After cure, the loose excess aggregate is swept and vacuumed. A seal coat of epoxy or polyaspartic is applied to bind the aggregate layer, and optionally a final topcoat is applied for surface finish and cleanability. The result is a fully encapsulated aggregate system with a textured surface that maintains anti-slip performance even under heavy use that would polish a smooth coating.
Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF) is the current standard for assessing slip resistance in floor surfaces, measured per ANSI A326.3. For level interior floors in wet service conditions, DCOF above 0.42 is the minimum recommendation. Standard smooth epoxy floors in wet conditions often fall below this threshold — the high-gloss topcoat surface becomes slippery with water. Full quartz broadcast systems with appropriate aggregate size routinely achieve DCOF of 0.55–0.75 wet — well above the safety threshold. This is why commercial kitchens and institutional facilities specify broadcast systems rather than smooth coatings.
Chemical Resistance in a Filled System
The chemical resistance of a quartz system is governed by the topcoat chemistry, not the aggregate. The silica aggregate itself is inert to essentially all common industrial chemicals except concentrated hydrofluoric acid. An aliphatic polyaspartic topcoat over a quartz broadcast system provides the combined benefits of the polyaspartic's chemical and UV resistance with the aggregate's mechanical durability and anti-slip performance — the dominant specification for new construction commercial floors in the Houston area.
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