Duraguard Protective Coating Solutions
Commercial & Industrial Concrete Floor Systems & polishing
Durathane HW/HS — Aliphatic Urethane Topcoat with Encapsulated Aluminum Oxide
UV-Stable, Non-Yellowing Urethane Finish Coat for Superior Abrasion and Chemical Resistance
When a floor system demands the best possible finish — maximum abrasion resistance, superior chemical resistance, long-term color stability, and a surface that looks as good years from now as it does on installation day — Durathane HW/HS is the answer. Duraguard’s 90% solids aliphatic urethane topcoat is engineered with encapsulated aluminum oxide technology that delivers a level of abrasion resistance no standard epoxy topcoat can match, combined with the UV stability and non-yellowing performance that only aliphatic urethane chemistry provides.
Applied as the final wear layer over epoxy base coat systems, decorative broadcast systems, and urethane concrete installations, Durathane HW/HS is the finish coat specified when superior performance in every category is the requirement. Installed by Duraguard Protective Coating Solutions throughout Wisconsin and Illinois since 1993, Durathane HW/HS sets the standard for high-performance floor finish coats.
What Is Aliphatic Urethane?
Not all urethane coatings are the same. Urethane floor coatings are produced from two distinct resin chemistries — aromatic and aliphatic — and the difference in performance is significant.
Aromatic urethane coatings are less expensive to produce and offer good general performance, but they yellow and chalk when exposed to UV light and natural daylight. Over time, aromatic urethane topcoats lose their clarity and color, degrading the appearance of the floor system beneath them.
Aliphatic urethane coatings are formulated with a different isocyanate chemistry that is inherently resistant to UV degradation. Aliphatic urethane does not yellow, does not chalk, and maintains its optical clarity and color fidelity under continuous UV and light exposure. For any installation where long-term appearance matters — decorative commercial floors, showrooms, food processing facilities, institutional buildings — aliphatic urethane is the correct topcoat chemistry.
Durathane HW/HS is an aliphatic urethane. Its UV stability and non-yellowing performance are built into the chemistry, not added as a surface treatment that wears away over time.
What Is Encapsulated Aluminum Oxide?
Aluminum oxide is one of the hardest materials used in abrasion-resistant coatings — the same material used in industrial grinding wheels and abrasive media. In Durathane HW/HS, aluminum oxide particles are encapsulated within the urethane resin matrix, distributed throughout the coating film rather than broadcast on the surface.
This encapsulation technology delivers abrasion resistance that is integral to the coating itself — not a surface texture that wears away with traffic. As the surface wears in service, fresh aluminum oxide particles are continuously exposed, maintaining the coating’s abrasion resistance throughout its service life rather than degrading as a surface-applied aggregate would.
The result is a topcoat that outperforms standard epoxy and urethane finishes in abrasion resistance by a significant margin — the right choice for any installation subject to heavy foot traffic, wheeled equipment, and the daily mechanical wear of demanding commercial and industrial environments.
Why Durathane HW/HS?
Aliphatic Urethane — Non-Yellowing, UV Stable
Durathane HW/HS’s aliphatic urethane chemistry is inherently UV stable and non-yellowing. Under fluorescent lighting, natural daylight, and direct UV exposure, the cured finish maintains its clarity and color without the yellowing and chalking that degrades aromatic urethane and standard epoxy topcoats. For decorative systems, light-colored floors, and any installation where long-term appearance is a requirement, this is the defining performance characteristic.
Encapsulated Aluminum Oxide — Superior Abrasion Resistance
The aluminum oxide particles encapsulated throughout the Durathane HW/HS film deliver abrasion resistance that standard topcoats cannot match. Traffic, wheeled equipment, dragged loads, and the daily mechanical abuse of commercial and industrial floors are handled without the surface degradation that wears standard epoxy and urethane finishes down over time. This is the topcoat specified when a floor needs to look good and perform well for the long term.
Superior Chemical Resistance
Aliphatic urethane chemistry delivers superior chemical resistance compared to standard epoxy topcoats — resisting oils, greases, cleaning chemicals, sanitizers, mild acids, and the broad spectrum of chemicals encountered in food processing, manufacturing, and commercial environments. Durathane HW/HS maintains its surface integrity under the chemical exposure that causes standard epoxy finishes to soften, stain, and degrade.
90% Solids — High Performance Film
At 90% solids, Durathane HW/HS applies at a high film build with minimal solvent content. The cured film is dense, hard, and chemically resistant — delivering the performance characteristics of a high-solids urethane finish coat across the full range of Duraguard floor system applications.
Universal Topcoat — Compatible With All Duraguard Systems
Durathane HW/HS is compatible with the full range of Duraguard floor systems as a final wear layer. It can be applied over Durapoxy TC epoxy base coats, over Durapoxy HUV clear epoxy in decorative systems, over urethane concrete systems including Duraclad 903, and over any other Duraguard finish coat where a superior urethane wear layer is specified. It is the universal upgrade for any installation where maximum performance in the final wear layer is required.
8 to 12 Hour Cure
Durathane HW/HS cures in 8 to 12 hours under normal conditions, keeping multi-coat installation schedules on track and allowing facilities to return floors to service quickly.
Where Durathane HW/HS Is Used
Decorative Commercial Floor Systems
In decorative flake, quartz, and metallic floor systems, Durathane HW/HS is the optional final wear layer applied over Durapoxy HUV clear epoxy. The aliphatic urethane chemistry protects the decorative system’s appearance from UV exposure and yellowing while the encapsulated aluminum oxide dramatically increases the abrasion resistance of the finished floor. For high-traffic commercial installations — retail floors, restaurant dining rooms, hotel lobbies, showrooms — Durathane HW/HS is the topcoat that makes the decorative investment last.
Food and Beverage Processing Facilities
Food processing environments demand topcoats that resist the cleaning chemicals, sanitizers, organic acids, and thermal cycling of daily wash-down operations. Durathane HW/HS’s superior chemical resistance and UV stability make it the right final coat for food processing floors where both performance and long-term appearance are required.
Commercial and Institutional Buildings
Schools, universities, healthcare facilities, office buildings, and institutional spaces benefit from Durathane HW/HS’s combination of abrasion resistance and UV stability. Floors in these environments face heavy foot traffic and continuous lighting exposure — exactly the conditions where aliphatic urethane with encapsulated aluminum oxide outperforms standard topcoats over time.
Manufacturing and Industrial Floors
Industrial manufacturing floors subject to forklift traffic, wheeled carts, heavy foot traffic, and chemical exposure benefit from Durathane HW/HS as the final wear layer. The encapsulated aluminum oxide handles the mechanical abuse while the aliphatic chemistry resists the chemical exposure common in manufacturing environments.
Any Installation Requiring Maximum Finish Performance
Durathane HW/HS is specified whenever the performance requirements of the installation demand the best available finish coat — maximum abrasion resistance, superior chemical resistance, UV stability, and long-term color fidelity combined in a single topcoat. It is the upgrade that separates a good floor system from an exceptional one.
Durathane HW/HS vs. Standard Epoxy Topcoat — Why It Matters
Standard epoxy topcoats are adequate for many commercial and industrial floor applications. They provide reasonable chemical resistance, acceptable abrasion resistance, and a serviceable finish at a standard cost.
Durathane HW/HS is specified when adequate is not enough. The combination of aliphatic urethane chemistry and encapsulated aluminum oxide delivers performance in abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and UV stability that standard epoxy topcoats cannot match. For high-traffic floors, decorative systems where appearance must be maintained long term, and any installation where the total cost of ownership justifies the best available finish coat, Durathane HW/HS is the right specification.
A floor finished with Durathane HW/HS looks better and lasts longer under the same conditions than the same system finished with a standard epoxy topcoat. That performance difference compounds over the service life of the floor — less maintenance, fewer recoats, and a surface that holds its appearance and function year after year.
The Duraguard Installation Process
Durathane HW/HS is applied as the final coat in a multi-layer floor system after all base coats and intermediate coats have cured to specification. Surface preparation of the underlying coat — including light abrasion to ensure proper intercoat adhesion — is performed before application.
Duraguard’s installation crews are experienced in aliphatic urethane application and understand the mixing ratios, application conditions, and cure requirements that ensure Durathane HW/HS performs to its full specification as a final wear layer.
We work around your production schedule, including nights and weekends, to minimize downtime during installation.
Service Area
Duraguard installs Durathane HW/HS aliphatic urethane topcoat systems throughout southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois including Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Waukegan, Gurnee, Libertyville, and surrounding areas.
Get a Free Floor Assessment
If your facility requires a high-performance floor finish with maximum abrasion resistance, superior chemical resistance, and long-term UV stability — contact Duraguard today for a free on-site assessment. We will evaluate your requirements and specify the right system with the right finish coat for your environment.
Call us at (833) 387-2482 or use our contact form to request your free evaluation.
Duraguard Protective Coating Solutions is proud to align with leading industry organizations that set the standard for flooring excellence and business integrity. We follow the guidelines and technical standards established by the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), ensuring every project meets rigorous industry benchmarks. As an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), we are committed to transparency, trust, and customer satisfaction. Duraguard is also recognized through Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), reflecting our dedication to Wisconsin’s manufacturing and business community.