Why Everyone Is Talking About Polyaspartic Coating
Polyaspartic coating is durable, tough, and fast
Polyaspartic coating may be the new kid on the block when it comes to polymeric coatings, but it is rapidly gaining in popularity due to its range of attractive and versatile properties. It is rapid curing (from 5 minutes to 2 hours), can be applied in a range of temperatures, is UV resistant, has strong adhesion, and is highly resistant to chemicals, heat, and water. Polyaspartic coating is most widely used as a concrete floor coating in industrial, residential, and commercial sectors, but it also finds ready application in other fields including construction, corrosion protection, bridge coatings, tank coatings, and more.
In this article we look at polyaspartic coating and its applications, and how it performs compared to other polymeric coatings like epoxy and polyurethane. We also list companies and manufacturers providing polyaspartic coating in the US.
Why to choose polyaspartic coating
Polyaspartic is durable, tough, and versatile. It has a range of properties that make it a desirable option for any project:
- UV stability – Unlike epoxy, polyaspartic coating is UV stable and does not suffer any negative effects when exposed to sunlight. This means it can also be used outside, as it also has excellent weatherability.
- Rapid curing, easy application – Polyaspartic coating is applied with a squeegee, broom, or a roller, and can be applied across a range of temperatures (including sub-zero temperatures). With little to no VOCs and a rapid cure time, polyaspartic coating is easy to apply, and requires very little downtime – meaning a fast return to service.
- High resistance to chemicals – Resists oils, acids, salts, fats, and other industrial chemicals.
- Strong adhesion and durability – Polyaspartic is highly adhesive due to its excellent wetting characteristics, and the coating forms a smooth, seamless surface that is highly durable under a range of conditions.
- Abrasion and impact resistance -Polyaspartic exhibits similar abrasion and scratch resistance to polyurethane.
Coating comparison: Polyurethane vs polyurea vs polyaspartic
The three big “poly” coatings are in fact all related chemistries – polyurethane, polyurea, and polyaspartic are all formed through the reaction of an isocyanate with a resin. The main difference lies in the resin component. At its most basic, the isocyanate component of polyurethane reacts with a polyol, for polyurea it is an amine, and polyaspartic uses a diamine. Polyaspartic coating is therefore a form of polyurea, also known as aliphatic polyurea.
What all this technical description is getting to is this: these coatings all share a number of properties, but not in equal degrees. They all have differing requirements and capabilities, and some have shortcomings that the others do not share.
- Polyurethane – Is sensitive to moisture and temperature when being applied. Requires a catalyst.
- Polyurea – Discolors on exposure to UV radiation. The cure speed and heat required for application mean it requires a bulky spray apparatus which decreases the number of suitable applications.
- Polyaspartic – Reacts and cures rapidly once the two components are mixed. They also have a lower moisture transmission rate than polyurea and polyurethane meaning they can be applied at a lower thickness. UV stable.
Where to use polyaspartic coating – bridges, flooring, and more
Polyaspartic coating has quickly found ready application in a wide range of industries and environments. Its high performance properties make it a perfect fit for protection and decoration purposes. Below is a list of just three of the most popular uses for this coating.
- Polyaspartic floor coating
No discussion of polyaspartic coating would be complete without mentioning flooring. As flooring, polyaspartic provides a seamless hygienic surface, UV resistance, cold temperature application, chemical and water resistance, and an attractive finish. Suitable for use in any environment. - Polyaspartic coating for exterior use
The UV resistance of a polyaspartic coating is a big advantage over more traditional epoxy coatings when it comes to exterior applications. Add to that its excellent abrasion resistance and rapid curing time, and polyaspartic coating outperforms the alternatives. Applications like bridge protection and highway projects are perfect examples. - Polyaspartic tank and storage coating
The waterproof, impermeable, chemical resistant properties of polyaspartic means it has found ready use in tank coating, storage, sewer and water treatment facilities, pipelines and even swimming pool coatings.
Find polyaspartic coating specialists and suppliers in the US
American industry took to polyaspartic in a snap, and there are many polyaspartic coating applicators and specialists operating across the country. These businesses operate both locally and nationwide providing everything from industrial polyaspartic coating to polyaspartic coating for your garage floor. Just a few of the bigger businesses and manufacturers are:
- Laticrete – Manufacturer of flooring products for residential, commercial, and industrial applications in North America
- Rust-Oleum – This American stalwart produces Finishkote 100 Polyaspartic Floor Coating, among other polyaspartic products
- Duraamen – A leading manufacturer and distributor of industrial coatings and polished concrete flooring systems, including polyaspartic
- Indmar – Manufacturer of a range of polyaspartic coating products operating out of Virginia
- Protective Industrial Polymers – Floor coating manufaacturer and installer working out of Ohio, with services across the US
If you would like to know more about polyaspartic and how it could work for your project, get in touch! Our experts are here to help. Simply use the button below and let us connect you with the coating solution for your needs.