Mia
It’s important to know about the industrial paints that are available. Painting can protect various structures from the elements and enhance the aesthetics. Whether you need to paint a water treatment plant, a grain silo, an airplane hangar, or even buildings within a municipality, there are specific types of paint that you will want to use.
Polyurethane Coating
Polyurethane is often considered a final coat over a primer that is custom-formulated for protection. The polyurethane offers premium aesthetics thanks to a high-gloss finish that is capable of maintaining a strong color. As such, it works effectively for many outdoor applications.
Low VOC formulas are available, though it is typically a two-component coating.
You’ll find many benefits of polyurethane:
- Withstands significant wear and tear
- Resists abrasion
- Good UV durability
It is important to know that it can be used in interior and exterior applications. There are only a few disadvantages, including the cost as well as the presence of isocyanate, which is a known carcinogen.
Vinyl Coating
Vinyl coating is similar to polyurethane in that they are both considered plastic. However, there are a number of distinct properties that change how they would be used when coating various metals.
While polyurethane offers flexibility, vinyl offers more rigidity. It’s a common coating in chemical plants, tank farms, and refineries. It’s a one-component paint that can be applied with a brush, roller, or airless spray.
There are quite a few benefits of a vinyl coating:
- Quick-drying properties
- Good water resistance
- Good chemical resistance
As with all coatings, there are limitations, too. It has poor resistance against strong solvents. Additionally, it is only dry heat resistant up to 80 degrees Celsius.
Epoxy Coating
Epoxy coatings can be extremely diverse due to the many varieties on the market. Many are extremely versatile and can be used in and out of the water thanks to their adhesion and penetration properties.
Some of the benefits that epoxy offers:
- Good alkali resistance
- Highly durable
- Good water resistance
It’s important to know that epoxy should only be handled by professionals. It can also have poor resistance to UV rays. Depending on how and where it is used, it can also cause allergic reactions.
Within the same family of epoxy coatings are epoxy mastic coatings. These are highly surface tolerant and can be used for industrial and marine applications as well as for aesthetic purposes. One of the main benefits of this type of coating is that it has good water-resistant properties. It is, however, temperature-dependent.
Alkyd Coating
Also known as metalized coating, are capable of resisting various elements. It can be used underwater, underground, as well as in inside and outside applications.
Custom alkyd coatings can be created to work with the industrial and OEM coating materials that you have in place.
You’ll experience several benefits with alkyd coatings:
- Can adapt to various conditions
- Highly resistant to common wear and tear
- Temperature resistant
One thing to be aware of with this type of coating is that it can take longer to dry than other coatings. Much of this has to do with oxygen permeability. It is possible to apply heat so that the chemical curing is sped up. Additionally, it has limited water resistance and cannot be used on zinc primers.
Zinc-Rich Coating
Zinc dust is used within a zinc-rich coating to create an organic means to protect steel and other metals. Often, the coating uses either polyurethane or epoxy binders in order to provide high performance.
There are various benefits available from Zinc-rich coatings:
- Creates a polymeric barrier
- Highly durable
- Abrasion-resistant
When this coating comes into contact with water, it can cause the metal to weaken and even lead to cracking. As such, it is not the best coating when it will be placed outside or underwater.
Acrylic Coating
An acrylic coating can be used in various applications, particularly within architectural and automotive applications. It is known for providing a high-gloss appearance.
The synthetic resin makes it possible to bond with metal and with oily surfaces. It is commonly mixed with water-based or latex paint to provide additional properties.
You’ll find an array of benefits with acrylic coating:
- Corrosion-resistant
- Quick-drying
It is not a common coating to use on such things as tanks, silos, or reservoirs. It is, however, one of the few coatings that only feature a few ingredients.
Polysiloxane Coating
Polysiloxane is one of the newer coatings that are available on the market. It is often compared to epoxy though it offers some more benefits, including providing abrasion and weather resistance.
Various benefits are available with polysiloxane coating:
- UV resistant
- Industry-leading abrasion resistant
- Corrosion-resistant
While it is similar to epoxy, it is not as corrosion resistant. It is also not the most flexible coating available, which is why it is not ideal for all industrial environments.
This hybrid coating is more expensive than others, though it can be applied quickly and is capable of lasting a significant amount of time.
The Importance of Working with a Professional Coating Company
With so many types of industrial paints, it can be overwhelming. Is a Zinc-rich coating better than an acrylic coating? Should you choose an epoxy coating over a polyurethane coating?
It’s critical that you get a coating that will provide protection against all of the elements and offer longevity. There are various factors to consider when choosing a coating – material you need to protect, the elements you are protecting against, the aesthetic you want to achieve, and more. By working with a professional paint company such as Element Coatings, you can be directed toward the best coating for the specific application.
