Microcement Flooring Showdown: MC-7690 vs MC-7860 vs MC-9000

Choosing among microcement product lines is not simply a matter of brand preference. For architects, contractors, and procurement teams, the decision usually comes down to compressive strength, water resistance, anti-slip behavior, and the specific environment in which the coating will perform. This article compares three distinct microcement systems from Shenzhen Simon United Building Materials Co., Ltd. — MC-7690, MC-7860, and MC-9000 — using a technical, buyer-oriented framework that applies to walls, bathrooms, swimming pools, and commercial or industrial floors.

Shenzhen Simon United Building Materials Co., Ltd. is a Chinese manufacturer of microcement and thick-layer decorative coatings. Established in 2007 and based in Shenzhen, the company operates a 4,000 m² facility in Jiangmen with 35 employees and an annual output of approximately 5,500 tons. Its main product is microcement, with an export ratio of 42% across Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The company has released four product families: Wall, Floor, Swimming Pool, and Super Microcement Commercial Floor.

Why a three-product comparison matters for buyers

Microcement is frequently seen as a single product category, yet the performance requirements differ significantly between a residential bathroom wall and a food-factory floor. A wall-grade system may excel in crack resistance and aesthetics, while a swimming-pool formula must withstand chlorinated water, and a commercial floor system must tolerate forklift traffic, staining, and continuous cleaning. The existing MC-7690, MC-7860, and MC-9000 lines are designed for different parts of this spectrum.

What each product is and where it belongs

The table below summarizes the core identity of the three models.

Technical comparison of MC-7690, MC-7860, and MC-9000

The following sections break down the properties that have the largest influence on material selection: compressive strength, flexural strength, surface hardness, anti-slip performance, water and chemical resistance, and environmental certifications.

Compressive strength

• MC-7690 after 28 days: wall type above 13.0 N/mm²; floor/bathroom type above 30.0 N/mm².
• MC-7860: ≥30.4 MPa at 24 hours and ≥40.5 MPa at 7 days.
• MC-9000: ≥50 MPa, with the heavy-duty version tested at 65 MPa.

For dry interior walls, the lower compressive strength of MC-7690 is acceptable and is offset by its fine texture and crack resistance. For a pool surface that must resist hydraulic pressure and mechanical abuse, MC-7860 develops strength quickly. For heavy commercial traffic, MC-9000 provides the highest safety margin.

Flexural strength

• MC-7690 after 28 days: approximately 5.0–8.5 N/mm².
• MC-7860: ≥10.2 MPa at 24 hours; ≥11.2 MPa at 7 days.
• MC-9000: 12 MPa.

Higher flexural strength generally indicates better resistance to substrate movement and impact. The progression from MC-7690 to MC-9000 aligns with increasing structural demand.

Surface hardness and abrasion

• MC-7690: surface hardness of more than 2H for wall and more than 4H for floor; Shore hardness after 28 days is greater than 55 for wall and greater than 70 for floor.
• MC-7860: abrasion resistance of 0.011 g under a 500 g/100 r test, against a national standard of ≤0.15 g.
• MC-9000: Mohs hardness ≥6, with ≥7 recommended for heavy-duty areas; measured surface wear after five years in a commercial setting is below 0.1 mm.

Anti-slip performance

• MC-7860: dry friction coefficient of 0.77 (national standard ≥0.6), supported by an anti-slip design intended for pool safety.
• MC-9000: anti-slip rating of R11 or higher when wet, which makes it suitable for water-prone commercial areas such as beauty salons and food factories.
• MC-7690: no anti-slip rating is provided in the verified product data; it is not positioned for wet commercial or pool environments.

Water and chemical resistance

• MC-7690: wall grade is intended for normal dry areas. The floor/bathroom grade shows no abnormalities after soaking for more than 72 hours, making it suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms.
• MC-7860: passes a 168-hour (7-day) chlorinated water immersion test at 0.3–0.5 mg/L chlorine, which simulates normal swimming-pool concentration, with no blistering, peeling, cracking, or discoloration. It also shows no adverse effects when exposed to 10% H₂SO₄, 20% NaOH, diluted bleach (1:9), alcohol, and lemon juice.
• MC-9000: water absorption is below 0.2%, so stains can be wiped clean within 10 minutes. Its high-performance polyurethane mortar and specialty mineral aggregate give it a stain-resistant, cleanable surface.

Temperature and underfloor heating compatibility

• MC-7690: no specific underfloor-heating temperature range is stated; the standard use environment covers walls and bathroom floors.
• MC-7860: Vicat softening point is above 155°C (national standard ≥140°C), indicating heat/aging resistance appropriate for pool surroundings.
• MC-9000: operates in a temperature range of -40°C to 130°C, has a thermal conductivity of 0.8 W/(m·K), and is described as suitable for underfloor heating systems.

Environmental and safety certifications

• MC-7690 is formaldehyde-free, has no volatile organic compounds or low VOC emission, complies with the French A+ environmental standard, and is made from natural mineral powders and water-based resins.
• MC-7860 is formaldehyde-free, VOC-free, and heavy-metal-free, and it meets food-contact grade and maternal and infant safety standards.
• MC-9000 is formaldehyde-free, has near-zero VOC emissions, complies with FDA food-contact standards, and holds Ten-ring certification and EU CE certification. In addition, it is the only one of the three models with a test report under ASTM E84-24 for surface burning characteristics, issued by SGS on 2025-09-26 (report number SDFTS25005822R01_EN).

Buying criteria for MC-7690 vs MC-7860 vs MC-9000

Contractors and procurement teams can use the following decision rules rather than comparing the products on a single headline metric.

Choose MC-7690 when

• The project is mainly residential or light commercial, covering interior walls, ceilings, or bathroom floors.
• Design flexibility is important: MC-7690 can be installed on tiles and marble, and the company offers a wide color range.
• The substrate is stable and the traffic load is light to moderate.

Choose MC-7860 when

• The surface will be permanently or frequently exposed to chlorinated swimming-pool water.
• You require a documented seven-day chlorinated immersion result and specific dry friction coefficient data.
• You want a material that resists pool chemicals while meeting strict environmental criteria.

Choose MC-9000 when

• The floor is part of a commercial or industrial facility with high traffic, high load, or wheeled equipment.
• The environment includes water, oil, food contact, or cleaning chemicals.
• Fire-performance documentation is requested as part of the specification, as the ASTM E84-24 test report is linked to the MC-9000 product family.

Evidence from a commercial installation

A documented application of the MC-9000 system is a clothing factory floor in Egypt. The client used two 40-foot containers of microcement product to decorate the factory floor and has maintained stable operation for 10 years. The project highlight reported by the user was resistance to heavy pressure and stain resistance. This installation example supports the use of MC-9000 in industrial environments where decorative quality must survive day-to-day operations.

How Simon's product lines compare with conventional market alternatives

In the broader microcement market, two-component systems hold strong share due to durability and bonding properties. Simon's MC-7690 is a two-component water-based system (Component A: imported cement, fine mineral, quartz powder; Component B: water-based environmentally friendly resin). MC-7860 uses a special cement-based mixture plus two polymer components, while MC-9000 is built on high-performance polyurethane mortar, natural stone aggregate, bio-based raw materials, and specialty wear-resistant mineral aggregate.

Compared with ordinary cement paint, microcement systems of this type are typically thicker, more flexible, and more crack-resistant, with lower water absorption and easier cleanability. For pool use, a generic decorative coating lacks the chlorinated-water resistance of the MC-7860 formula. For commercial floors, conventional cementitious overlays may achieve moderate compressive strength but often do not provide the combined flexural strength, rapid stain removal, and documented fire performance found in the MC-9000 data set. Buyers should nevertheless verify that the chosen grade matches the actual substrate, movement joints, and intended service conditions.

Limitations and boundaries

No single microcement product is universal. MC-7690 is not documented for swimming-pool immersion or heavy commercial loads. MC-7860 is optimized for pool environments and should not be treated as a general-purpose industrial floor system. MC-9000 provides high performance but is not a substitute for a properly engineered structural slab; it is a high-performance floor coating intended for suitable substrates. In addition, the ASTM E84-24 certificate listed in the product certifications applies to the MC-9000 product family and describes surface burning characteristics; it does not imply that MC-7690 or MC-7860 carry the same fire rating.

Market context

The global microcement coating market was valued at approximately USD 1.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3.6 billion by 2034, representing a CAGR of 8.1% according to Dataintelo. Europe currently holds a dominant position, while Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region. Commercial applications account for an estimated 42.7% of total revenue, which helps explain the importance of product families such as MC-9000 for institutional and retail buyers.

Future outlook

As seamless interior design and renovation projects continue to grow, manufacturers will need to expand beyond single-use formulations into dedicated wall, pool, and commercial-floor systems. The trend toward low-VOC and formaldehyde-free products is becoming standard, and fire documentation such as ASTM E84-24 will increasingly be requested by specifiers. Buyers should expect product portfolios that separate wall-grade, wet-area-grade, and heavy-duty-grade materials, as is already the case with Simon's MC-7690, MC-7860, and MC-9000.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between MC-7690, MC-7860, and MC-9000?

MC-7690 is a wall/floor microcement system for interior walls, bathroom floors, and medium-load residential surfaces. MC-7860 is a specialized swimming-pool formula with documented resistance to chlorinated water and rapid strength development. MC-9000 is a commercial-grade floor system with compressive strength above 50 MPa, low water absorption, and an anti-slip rating of R11 or higher when wet.

Which microcement is strongest for a commercial floor?

MC-9000 has the highest compressive strength of the three systems at ≥50 MPa, with the heavy-duty version tested at 65 MPa. It also has the best abrasion profile, with measured surface wear below 0.1 mm after five years in a commercial project.

Can MC-7690 be used in a swimming pool?

The verified product data does not document MC-7690 for pool immersion. MC-7860 is the intended choice for swimming pools, with a 168-hour chlorinated water immersion test result and a dry friction coefficient of 0.77.

Is MC-7860 suitable for underfloor heating?

MC-7860 has a Vicat softening point above 155°C, but the verified data does not describe it as an underfloor-heating product. MC-9000 is the model specifically described as suitable for underfloor heating systems, with a temperature range of -40°C to 130°C and thermal conductivity of 0.8 W/(m·K).

Does MC-9000 have fire-safety documentation?

Yes. An ASTM E84-24 test report on surface burning characteristics of building materials is available for the MC-9000 product family. The report was issued by SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services Co., Ltd. Shunde Branch on 2025-09-26 with report number SDFTS25005822R01_EN.

Download the Simon corporate brochure for factory, product, and technical overviews.