The polymerization (hardening) of this coating type releases strong noxious and hazardous odors right after an organic peroxide activates the hardening process. These odors lasts for only as long as it takes to cure, which is under two hours. The oxygen in the air actually inhibits the hardening process and so a form of paraffin type wax is mixed into the resin in order to create a barrier with the air so that the substance can cure.
MMAs are often combined with other methacrylates such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate which add to an MMAs flexibility and water repelency characteristics and so are sometimes re-branded as PMMAs. Many people in the coatings industry use these two acronyms interchangeably. A candidate environment for this flooring system must have adequate ventilation. For that reason mostly, we prefer to use cementitious urethanes where applications necessitate many of the characteristics of a MMA flooring system.