Water-based aliphatic urethane · TCU
ResinTech TCU Aliphatic Top Coat Urethane
A two-component, water-based aliphatic polyurethane topcoat that gives polished concrete and resinous floors a measurable protective film with a controlled satin sheen.
- Packaging6 L kit, sold as a complete kit only
- Mix ratio5 : 1 by volume, Part A : Part B
- FinishSatin
- Use environmentInterior. Not recommended for continuous exterior horizontal exposure.
What TCU is
TCU forms a crosslinked urethane film that improves wear resistance, stain protection and durability compared with conventional acrylic or penetrating polished-concrete sealers. Unlike a sacrificial sealer it provides a measurable film build.
It is an interior product for commercial and institutional environments — retail polished concrete, showrooms, grind-and-seal systems, decorative overlays, light-duty garages and as a topcoat over epoxy or polyurethane flooring. The TDS does not recommend it for continuous exterior horizontal exposure.
TCU is not one of the five materials in the ResinTech traffic coating system guide; HPP and CRU are the exterior traffic topcoats.
Packaging
| Component | Size |
|---|---|
| Part A | 5 L (1.321 US gal) |
| Part B | 1 L (0.264 US gal) |
Mix ratio: 5 : 1 by volume, Part A : Part B
Supported applications
- Polished concrete in retail, commercial and institutional interiors
- Showrooms and high-traffic interiors
- Decorative overlays and grind-and-seal systems
- Light-duty garage applications
- Topcoat for epoxy or polyurethane flooring systems
Role in ResinTech systems: Interior protective satin finish for polished concrete and resinous floors (not a traffic-system material). See the traffic coating systems.
Product data
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Components | Two — Part A resin + Part B aliphatic polyisocyanate hardener |
| Mix ratio | 5 L Part A : 1 L Part B by volume |
| Solids content (mixed) | ~75 % (ASTM D1259) |
| VOC | < 100 g/L (SCAQMD Rule 1113) |
| Finish | Satin |
| Pot life | 30–40 min at 20 °C |
| Shelf life | Approximately 12 months, unopened, stored at 10–25 °C; protect from freezing |
| CSI MasterFormat | 09 67 23 Resinous Flooring; 09 91 23 Interior Clear Protective Coatings |
Performance properties
Typical values at 23 °C and 50 % RH unless noted, as published in RT-TCU-TDS-2.3. Not a guarantee of performance.
| Property | Typical value | Method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 2–4 MPa | ASTM D638 |
| Elongation at break | 20–40 % | ASTM D638 |
| Abrasion resistance | ≤ 75 mg | ASTM D4060, CS-17, 1000 cycles |
| Hardness | Shore D 65–75 | ASTM D2240 |
| Bond strength to concrete | Strong mechanical adhesion to properly prepared concrete (no figure published) | ASTM D7234 |
Working time, recoat and cure
| Condition | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Pot life | 30–40 min |
| Dry to touch | 3–4 h |
| Tack-free | 6–8 h |
| Optimal recoat window | 10–12 h (mechanical abrasion required beyond ~18 h) |
| Light foot traffic | 14–16 h |
| Heavy foot traffic | 24–30 h |
| Vehicular traffic (rubber-tired) | 2–3 days |
| Full cure | 4–5 days |
| Full chemical cure | 5–7 days |
Typical at 20 °C / 50 % RH. Curing rate is influenced by temperature, humidity, airflow and film thickness.
Coverage and film build
| Use | Film build | Typical coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Per coat (two thin coats recommended) | Thin, uniform coats | ~700 ft² per 6 L (~1.6 US gal) mixed unit per coat |
Actual coverage depends on surface porosity, profile and film thickness.
Application conditions
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Concrete age | Minimum 28 days cured |
| Surface profile | Mechanically prepared; ICRI CSP 2–3 recommended |
| Application temperature | 10–30 °C recommended |
| Dew point | Substrate at least 3 °C above dew point |
| Substrate moisture | Evaluate before application in accordance with the project specification |
Limitations
- Not intended as a waterproofing membrane.
- Not designed for active crack bridging.
- Not recommended for continuous exterior horizontal exposure.
- Protect from moisture for a minimum of 24 hours after application.
- Do not mix partial kits.
Technical documents
- ResinTech TCU — Technical Data SheetTDS · RT-TCU-TDS-2.3 · Rev 2.3 · A + B · 4 pages · PDF
- ResinTech TCU — Safety Data Sheet (Canada / WHMIS)SDS · RT-TCU-SDS-2.1 · Rev 2.1, February 2026 · Part A / Part B · 5 pages · PDF
Documents are the current versions published by ResinTech at the time this page was last built. Safety Data Sheets cover both components where the product is two-part.
Related products
Questions and answers
Is TCU suitable for exterior decks?
No. The TDS does not recommend TCU for continuous exterior horizontal exposure. For exterior traffic surfaces, ResinTech uses HPP or CRU.
How many coats?
Two thin coats are recommended, applied with a lint-free roller within the 10–12 hour recoat window.
What does TCU replace?
It is a performance upgrade over acrylic or penetrating sealers on polished concrete, providing a measurable crosslinked film rather than a sacrificial sealer.