What Are Polyaspartic and Polyurea Coatings?
Our coating is a proprietary polyurea, enhanced with the addition of polyaspartic esters. In the world of coatings, our system, compared with epoxies and other coatings, is what a Ferrari is to a Ford. These coatings are at the top of the mountain. They have exceptional high-performance characteristics when applied by a skilled applicator.
A high-performance car cannot be driven by just anyone without crashing. The same holds true with high-performance polyaspartic / polyurea coatings. They cannot be applied without extensive experience, knowledge, and proper equipment. In the right hands, however, the performance as a concrete coating is exceptional. It doesn’t mean, though, that price is exorbitant. In fact, pricing is competitive with other high-quality coatings and actually cheaper in the long run due to long-term durability.
Polyaspartics and Polyurea Basics
Polyureas are the actual coating, while Polyaspartics are an enhancer. Polyaspartics increase the cure time of polyureas, have a thick build film in a single application, and are exceptionally resistant to corrosion and wear.
Many polyurethanes on the market today are enhanced with the addition of polyaspartics. Polyureas are steps above the quality of polyurethanes. Proper blending of polyapsartics with a polyurea create the ultimate, tightly linked coating.
This becomes a significant feature. Tightly linked chemicals significantly reduce surface microscratches. Benefits include the following:
- Low To Zero Bacteria Growth – If the floor develops microscratches, which are hard to detect, the tight cross-linking results with the scratches being straight as opposed to frayed. Coatings with weak links develop frayed edges, trapping dirt and moisture. This creates a perpetually dirty floor, but worse, creates unhealthy levels of bacteria. When cleaning a polyaspartic / polyurea floor, dirt and potential bacteria are removed, which is why they are an ideal floor coating for medical and kennel facilities. The lack of dirt and bacteria buildup, results in less abrasion and extended long-term performance.
- Floor Adhesion and Wetting – Many coatings merely stick to the surface. Polyaspartic / Polyurea coatings “wet” into the surface. A simple analogy is that “wetting” is absorption, like water into a sponge. Coatings that stick to the surface are vulnerable to moisture vapor pressure and salts inherent in concrete. Weak cross-linking means that salts will break down the chemical chain, resulting in chipping and delamination. Polyaspartic / Polyureas actually cap off tiny air holes and veins in concrete. This creates an inverse pressure, making it almost impossible for moisture vapor to move upwards through concrete. Moisture vapor is forced to move horizontally under concrete, eventually emitting upwards pressure outside property walls. This feature, while significantly controlling moisture vapor, also reduces Relative Humidity (RH). The benefit is a waterproof room with dry, healthy air quality.
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- Chemical Resistance – Tight cross-linking and high solids content results in exceptional resistance to chemicals and de-icing salts. In cold climates, like the Rocky Mountains, salts are easily tracked into garages, retail stores, restaurants, medical facilities, and industrial spaces. Not only will polyurea / polyaspartic coatings resist road salt corrosion, but they can also be applied vertically over cove moldings. This process creates a totally seamless basin. Floors can be easily cleaned without the possibility of water and salts getting under walls.
- “Green” With Zero VOCs – Our polyapartic / polyureas have zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). No harmful smells.
- Rapid Cure – Our polyaspartic / polyurea is not your typical off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all coating. The polyaspartic is actually added based on the environment. For quick cure in cold weather, we can increase the polyaspartic content and reduce for warm weather application. An epoxy coating is applied one coat per day for as long as four days, and we can apply numerous coats in a single day with return to service the next day. There is minimal downtime. For current facilities, this means application around work schedules and no need to shut down for days or weeks. For remodels and new construction, rapid cure means quicker application without holding up other trades. This becomes a valuable, money-saving application.
- Decorative – Our product starts clear and can be applied over stained concrete, or color packs with decorative chips can be added. Decorative chips come in various sizes, color, and style. The look of terrazzo or quartz can be created. You can create simple one-color schemes or customize multi colored designs. Graphic inlays, with a choice of a company logo or any custom graphic design, can be applied.
Benefit Summary
- Non-Yellowing
- Easy To Clean
- Limited to Zero Bacteria Build
- Waterproof
- Green , zero VOCs
- Chemical Resistant
- Rapid Cure
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