Most consumers are familiar with polyaspartic coatings, even though they may not have made the connection between protective coatings for steel highway bridges, spray on truck bed liners, and commercial floor coatings. However, these varied applications all stem from the same technology. In fact, the composition now used for polyaspartic commercial floor coatings was originally introduced over 20 years ago, during the early 1990s, as a way to protect steel structures. This technology, referred to as a “dual cure polyurea,” combines the benefits of a moisture cure polyurea with the benefits of a fast cure polyurea, while outperforming both. Here are five benefits of polyaspartic coatings for commercial flooring:
A polyurea coating composition is an elastomer that can protect a surface from corrosion, moisture, and chemicals. Without delving into the chemistry, polyurea coatings are categorized as either moisture cure or fast cure. Moisture cure polyurea coatings take a long time to cure. Fast cure, on the other hand, cures quickly.
Polyaspartic polyurea coatings, like Spartacote, cure quickly like a fast cure polyurea coating. This means that these coatings can provide a quick curing concrete floor coating. Typically, a polyaspartic polyurea coating can be touched after a few hours and they will fully cured in about 24 hours. This cure time is shorter than the cure time for a moisture cure polyurea or epoxy coating.
Although fast cure polyurea coating compositions are well known for their fast cure time, they are also notorious for poor adhesion because they tend to cure before they can properly adhere to the underlying surface. Moisture cure polyurea coating compositions, on the other hand, adhere very well to an underlying surface because of the long cure time.
As a polyaspartic polyurea coatings, Spartacote combines the best of fast cure polyurea coatings with the best of moisture cure polyurea coatings. Polyaspartic polyurea coatings cure quickly, like fast cure polyurea, yet adhere well to an underlying surface, like moisture cure polyurea coatings. As a side benefit to the superior adhesion, polyaspartic polyurea coatings like Spartacote can form thicker layers than fast cure polyurea coatings.
A consequence of the long cure time of moisture cure polyurea coatings is that visible bubbles can develop in the protective layer during the long cure time. These visible bubbles can mar the appearance of a moisture cure polyurea coating. Fast cure polyurea coatings, on the other hand, cure so quickly that the protective coating layer cures before any bubbles can form. Since polyaspartic polyurea coatings cure quickly, they cure clear and without bubbles. This chemical distinction means that polyaspartic polyurea coatings like Spartacote cure quickly and without bubbles, but also have strong adhesion to the underlying concrete surface.
In various tests, polyaspartic polyurea coatings were exposed to solvents and acids such as hydrochloric acid and acetic acid. These tests showed that polyaspartic polyurea coatings were highly resistant to chemical exposure.
This is a particularly important property when polyaspartic polyurea commercial floor coatings are used in a work area where chemical spills may occur. Based on these tests, polyaspartic polyurea coatings are particularly useful when used in garages, repair shops, airplane hangars, or other locations where commercial floor coatings may be exposed to a variety of substances.
Tests also show that polyaspartic polyurea commercial floor exposure floor coatings are resistant to ultraviolet light. UV light is the radiation responsible for causing humans to sunburn and plastic objects to fade or turn yellow. Since polyaspartic polyurea protective coatings are resistant to UV light, they can be used in facilities that use ultraviolet light or are located outdoors.
In sum, polyaspartic polyurea protective coating, like Spartacote, is a hybrid polyurea because it combines a fast cure time and clear appearance with strong adhesive properties and the ability to form thick protective layers. This hybrid also causes commercial floor coatings made from polyaspartic polyurea are resistant to chemical solvents and ultraviolet light. This means that polyaspartic polyurea protective coatings may be used in nearly any environment, even if they may be exposed to acids or sunlight.