Polyurea is a polymer compound composed of numerous polyurethane resins, which are manufactured through a process called step growth polymerization. Polyurea is an extremely versatile structural material used in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automobile, marine, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. It can be used for a variety of applications in these sectors, as it can stand up to a number of harsh chemical environments and still provide the same function. Polyurea is also known to have high wear resistance properties, meaning it is able to maintain its structural integrity even under harsh environmental conditions. However, in order to meet the aforementioned qualities, polyurea must undergo a unique manufacturing process and can only be manufactured through a handful of steps.
In order to make polyurea, three key components have to be combined: a resin, an external moisture resistance factor, and a fast setting, or quick setting, curing agent. When these three ingredients are combined, it is possible for polyurea to have a superior sheen and gloss with higher water resistance capability than other synthetic polymers, including polyurethane and n-crystal resins. Polyurea can resist extreme heat and has high water permeability, which makes it ideal for a wide variety of applications in the food and beverage industry, including food processing, packaging, and retail. In fact, polyurea has been widely used as an additive for food products to increase shelf life, as well as for decorative purposes.
Polyurea coatings are composed of two layers – the topmost layer consists of moisture-resistance carriers that act as a vapor barrier and a moisture retainer, while the bottommost layer is composed of a silicone-based additive or emulsifier. Polyurea coatings offer excellent water and moisture-resistance, meaning they can withstand exposure to both hot and cold temperatures, can be applied to diverse surface textures, and will not degrade with exposure to sunlight or UV light. This versatility makes polyurea an ideal material for a wide range of applications. It is also resistant to solvents, solids, and water, so it is able to be applied as an adhesive for metal fabrication, as a binder for rubber and foam, as a lubricant for manufacturing equipment, as a binder for concrete, and as a hardener for many metals, including stainless steel. Polyurea has also been successfully used to create anti-fungal coatings on wood products, which feature antimicrobial properties that cause fungal growth to be inhibited. These coatings have been shown to have an extended life compared to alternative treatments, and polyurea can even be used for cosmetics applications.
Because polyurea has excellent physical and chemical properties, it is commonly used to provide shock-absorbing abilities for the skin. For example, polyurea sheets are often used as a temporary barrier on the nose and inner cheeks to protect the wearer from impact trauma. By creating a barrier, this layer of polyurea interferes with the rapid spreading of facial swelling associated with facial trauma. Other applications of polyurea include impact resistance, which is important for automobile windshields, and thermal shock that can occur when working with hot liquids, such as those found in hot tubs or saunas.
Along with its physical properties, polyurea has been proven to have desirable chemical and structural properties, and has an extensive history of usage as an industrial coating system. The manufacturing process of polyurea involves injection of the resin into a mold, which forms the internal layer and then the exterior coating. After the coating has cured, the polyurea is then shaped to match the external surface, typically using high pressure and heat. This ensures that the coating system will have a tight fit, resisting leaking and absorption through exposure to moisture and impact.
These coatings have a wide variety of applications, ranging from automotive glass to protective coatings for sensitive equipment. Polyurea has a number of advantages over conventional moisture resistant materials and technologies, including: it’s relatively impervious to heat, moisture and impact, it’s durable against most chemicals and biological hazard forms, and it’s has a high degree of thermal resistance. In addition, polyurea is also flexible, so that it can be manufactured into a wide range of shapes. It is also available in a wide range of thicknesses, which allow it to be used to create a wide range of protective coatings, including barrier systems and barriers that are less expensive than other similar materials. While polyurea does have some limitations, such as its inability to provide full structural strength in thin layers, it still demonstrates significant advantages over moisture-based systems, especially when it is incorporated into other materials such as metal and composite materials.
