Polyurea Coatings Offer Great Protection and More
Polyurea is an exciting new material that offers a number of benefits for industries looking to reduce costs, improve performance and enhance safety. Polyurea is made from rubber polymers. These polymers are generally man-made through a process called step growth polymerization, where a polymerizing compound such as resin is mixed with the viscous polymer mix (resin) in a vesicle. The resin then hardens into a solid, while the viscous polymer mixes with the polyurethane (rubber-resin mixture).
Polyurea is composed primarily of polyurethane and rubber resins. Its physical properties make it ideal for use in a variety of applications. Below are examples of polyurea application areas: coating, flame retardant coatings, hardening wear resistance, chemical corrosion protection, anti-corrosion, friction reduction and bumpers. While polyurea is commonly seen in cosmetic products and lubricants, it also has applications in a wide range of industry sectors. Here’s an example of polyurea application:
Flame Retardant Coatings Polyurea‘s flame retardant properties allow it to be an extremely useful component in flame retardant coatings. Coatings are designed to protect against burning and smoking of materials. Many coatings are mixed with polyurethane, which hardens as it ages, giving the coating a higher tolerance to the effects of temperature fluctuations and combustion. It also provides much higher abrasion resistance than most metallurgy titanium and copper coatings, reducing the need for more aggressive treatment. As a result, coatings with polyurethane are often used to protect metal enclosures, as well as machinery that may be exposed to elevated temperatures. In addition, the high level of friction reduction offered by polyurethane can help reduce the incidence of hydrostatic pressure buildup in turbine blades, reducing the occurrence of fatigue crack cracking.
Moisture Resistance Polyurea has also been found to have significant contributions to moisture resistance. Specifically, it increases the thermal resistance of the product, meaning that it will not absorb or retain water that may be sprayed on it. Some polyurea formulations boast of extreme thermal conductivity, up to 4 times that of common polyurethane polymers. Additionally, it includes high amounts of UV resistance, which is especially important in the case of uv protection of cosmetic and medical devices. UV protection prevents the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays from breaking down the material, eventually causing it to degrade.
Impact Resistant Coatings The coatings also play a large role in terms of their impact resistance capabilities. They help prevent sharp objects from embedding themselves into them and derailing their movement. As such, polyurea is often used as an alternative to steel in the production of impact resistance. Examples of use include impact barriers used on bridges, tunnels and buildings, as well as the bodies of water, including the ocean.
Concrete Resin Polyureas are also commonly used in the manufacture of concrete coatings. Like most polyureas, they offer excellent resistance to moisture and impact. Plus, they can also produce high amounts of friction and chemical resistance. Some polyurea coatings produced by polyethylene carbonate (PE) are capable of withstanding freezing temperatures up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. This added resistance to heat makes polyurea a cost-effective option for any building and repair industry.
