DULUX TRADE HI-CHEM EPOXY ENAMEL

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

Version 3 – 2019 AUGUST
THIS ISSUE SUPERSEDES ALL PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Semi-gloss epoxy enamel for interior industrial and home use (e.g. garage floors, etc.)

PRODUCT USES
· Can be applied on walls, floors and suitably primed metal surfaces.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

· Good resistance to a wide range of chemicals and most solvents.
· Cures to a hard film with good adhesion and abrasion resistance.
· Provides an economical alternative to tiling in bathrooms, showers, kitchens, toilets and
low cost housing.
· Suitable for surfaces that require frequent cleaning with solvents, detergents or alkaline
cleaners.
· The cured film is non-toxic. When properly applied and cured, the product is completely
safe for direct or accidental food contact on floor and wall applications.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Appearance Semi- gloss
Colour White, Light Grey, Dark Grey and Brilliant Green
Binder Type Polyamide cured Epoxy
Density at 23°C Approx. 1.30
Solids Content By weight: Approx. 60%
By volume: Approx. 44%
Packaged Viscosity Viscosity at 23°C: Approx. 70 KU
Spreading Rate at 35µm DFT Brush: Approx. 9 m² per litre, depending on surface porosity,
profile and application method
Recommended DFT per coat Min. 50µm. Max. 60µm.
Recommended WFT per coat Min. 110µm. Max. 140µm
(Higher film build will increase resistance)
Flash Point 25ºC
DULUX TRADE HI-CHEM EPOXY ENAMEL
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Mixing Stir the Base and Curing Agent separately until
homogeneous with a flat paddle. Then add the Curing Agent
to the Base and stirring until homogeneous with a flat paddle
Mixing Ratio 4 parts Base to 1 part Curing Agent by volume.
Application Surface conditions Surface Temperature between 10 - 35°C. Relative Humidity
between 10 - 85 % OR 2ºC above dew point minimum.
Application methods Dulux Trade Hichem Epoxy Enamel is packaged in two
components in the proper proportions which must be mixed
together until homogenous before use. See Mixing
Airless Spray: Ready for use after induction period of 30
minutes.
Air Spray: After mixing, thin 10% by volume and allow
induction period of 30 minutes.
Brush: Can be used on small areas where joining is not a
problem e.g. signs, pipes, colour bands, etc.
Roller: Short nap roller may be used on tanks and silos
taking precautions to pick up the wet edge to avoid “window-
paning”.
Self-Priming on porous masonry: The product can only be
over coated with itself. If a primer is required, Dulux Trade
Hichem Epoxy Enamel thinned 10% by volume can be
utilised as a primer coat.
N.B. Mix the paint first, then stir in the thinners.
Thinner Dulux Trade Heavy Duty Thinners for spraying to
maximum of 10% of product volume and should only be
added after mixing the Curing Agent with the Base and
stirred homogeneous with a flat paddle.
Induction Period 30 minutes at 25°C (i.e. do not paint immediately after
mixing).
Pot Life to gelation Approx. 8 hours at 25°C
Drying Time Dry to handle: 24 hours at 25ºC.
Recoating Time 6 hours minimum; up to 7 days maximum at 25°C. (Drying
times will be extended during cold, wet or humid conditions.)

APPLICATION INFORMATION
Cleaning of equipment After use, remove as much product as possible, and then
clean immediately with Dulux Trade Heavy Duty Thinners.
Substrates Correctly prepared cement plaster, concrete and correctly
prepared and primed mild steel and iron

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DULUX TRADE HI-CHEM EPOXY ENAMEL
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Precautions: Do not apply during cold (below 10°C) or wet weather.
Do not apply directly to bare metal surfaces.
Recommended for interior surfaces only, as the film will
chalk on exterior exposure.
Cure is slow at low temperatures; below 15°C it takes some
days to reach handling and recoating hardness.
The pot life is short above 35°C; shield pressure pots and
fluid lines from direct sun.
Equipment and brushes must be cleaned immediately.
Heat resistant to + 120°C (continuous) although some
yellowing occurs above 100°C.
Not suitable for direct application to powdery or friable
surfaces whether previously painted or not.
Coats Required Apply two to three finishing coats to new surfaces to achieve
a minimum continuous film of 70µm microns to produce
closed film and solid colour.
For non-skid pedestrian areas, three full coats will be
required. See “SURFACE PREPARATION”.

SURFACE PREPARATION
Ensure that surfaces are sound and free from dust, oil, grease, dirt, and debris. Surfaces
must be thoroughly dry - no more than 12% moisture content.

NEW SURFACES
Cement Plaster, Concrete (non-friable)
· Freshly rendered concrete should have dried/cured for a minimum of 6 weeks, the
moisture content of the concrete should be below 12% before any preparation and
painting is attempted.
· It is recommended that fresh plaster should be allowed 1 week drying for every 5mm
thickness; and longer in cold or damp weather.
· Ensure the entire surface is sound and clean. Remove any plaster spills, and all loose
debris from the surface, ensuring an even and clean surface.
· Acid etch the surface with a solution of hydrochloric acid to remove laitance, uncured
cement, etc. as follows: On steel or power floated concrete (very smooth), use one
volume hydrochloric acid to two volumes water. More than one application may be
necessary to achieve a paintable surface. On wood floated concrete (rough), use one
volume hydrochloric acid to four volumes water. N.B. Hydrochloric acid is corrosive -
please wear protective clothing, gloves, masks and eye goggles against splashes.
· Allow the acid solution to react for 15 minutes and then wash away all acid with copious
amounts of clean water.
· Remove excess water and allow thorough drying –no more than 12% moisture content.

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DULUX TRADE HI-CHEM EPOXY ENAMEL
SURFACE PREPARATION
NEW SURFACES
Floors Concrete – NON-SKID Pedestrian areas (walkways and passages)
· Follow the cleaning and etching instructions under surface preparation, new surfaces,
Cement Plaster, Concrete (non-friable)
· Coat 1 – Apply and, while it is still wet, sprinkle dry, silica sand over the surface. (The
silica sand should be sifted through a 250µm sieve and retained on a 210µm sieve. A
practical spreading rate is 500 grams of sand per square meter of painted floor.)
· Coat 2 - The following day, sweep off any excess sand and apply a further coat to seal
the surface. Allow overnight drying again
· Coat 3 – Apply 3rd coat
· Observe chemical curing times as stated in this technical data sheet.

Mild Steel and Iron

· Remove all shop-primer and corrosion products from the steel. Sand blast steel to
achieve a bright metal condition, and a cleanliness standard of Sa2½ minimum.
· Clean bare steel with a solvent wash (rags dipped in lacquer thinner). Change rags
frequently.
· Apply one or two coats Dulux Trade Corrocote 1 Metal Etch Primer, depending on the
severity of the conditions. Two coats are preferred for coastal conditions.

PREVIOUSLY PAINTED SURFACES

· The existing coating system should be dry and free of contaminants such as oil, grease
and loose paint.
· Test that the surface will accept epoxy by allowing a cloth soaked with Dulux Trade
Heavy Duty Thinners to rest on it for 15 minutes - it must not lift or wrinkle. If lifting or
wrinkling occurs, the paint must be removed with paint stripper or any other suitable
means.
· Abrade damaged or failed areas back to a sound substrate and treat as new.
· Aged or weathered epoxies or urethanes must be well sanded to a matt finish to provide
a profile for adhesion.

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DULUX TRADE HI-CHEM EPOXY ENAMEL
HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION
Solvent based paints are flammable.
This product contains no added lead. Avoid contact with skin or eyes. Keep out of reach of
children. If accidently swallowed, seek medical advice immediately and show this container
to the doctor. Dry sanding, flame cutting and/or welding of the dry paint film will give rise to
dust and/or hazardous fumes. Wet sanding should be used wherever possible.
If exposure cannot be avoided by the provision of local exhaust ventilation, suitable
respiratory protective equipment should be used. Do not empty into drains or watercourses.
Ensure good ventilation during application and drying. It is recommended to use suitable
protective clothing and equipment. To avoid the risk of spillage, always store and transport
containers in a secure upright position. Refer to Material Safety Data Sheet for complete
information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Packaging 5 Litre (4L base in large tin, 1L curing agent).
Storage Conditions Store under cool dry conditions away from direct sunlight,
heat and extreme cold.
Disclaimers Colour references are as accurate as modern printing will
allow. Please refer to colour cards for an accurate
representation of the colour.
Among others, the following factors may affect final colour
appearance: product sheen and texture, colour and light
reflections, application, surface texture and preparation.
For best colour and sheen consistency, it is advisable to use
containers of the same batch number, to mix different
batches together in a large container, or to finish in a corner
before starting a new container.

TDS STANDARD DISCLAIMER

The recommendations contained herein are given in good faith and meant to guide the specifier or user in accordance with
good painting practices. They are gained from our tests and experiences and are believed to be accurate and reliable. No
warranty/guarantee is implied by the recommendations contained herein since the conditions of use; application method,
substrate and cleanliness of the substrate are beyond Dulux control.
Important Note; Technology may change with time, necessitating changes to this Technical Data Sheet (TDS).
It is the responsibility of the user to ensure that the latest TDS is being used for reference. Dulux Technical Data Sheets are
available on our website www.duluxtrade.co.za or please contact: Dulux On-Line on 0860 330 111. Email
[email protected]
ICI Dulux (Pty) Ltd is part of AkzoNobel. ICI Dulux (Pty) Ltd Reg No.1946/020769/07

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