Relatively new on the industrial coatings scene is polyaspartic technology, a hybrid coating similar to polyurethanes. Innovations in the technology have made these coatings a more versatile option compared to epoxy and urethane coating systems. Applying polyaspartics in a single coat accomplishes what traditional epoxy and urethane systems need two coats to do. The technology has come a long way as early polyaspartic formulations had low adhesion values. Well-known system failures have been blamed on this lack of adhesion promoters in early polyaspartic technology.

Polyurethanes are softer, more flexible and offer better color and gloss retention. They perform well as structural protection, are more versatile in terms of protecting assets in harsh weather conditions and offer better impact resistance than epoxy and urethane coatings. For example, tanks, exterior pipes, barges or exterior concrete are better protected with polyurethane coatings.

Polyaspartic technology breaks from traditional polyurethanes because polyaspartic esters can be manipulated to suit varying applications. Manipulating the esters allows for controlled drying times and extends pot-life. Where epoxy and urethane coatings require much longer curing times, polyaspartic coatings cure much more quickly. That limits lag time, allowing assets to be put back to use more quickly. Polyaspartic coatings also can be formulated for application and curing at temperatures well below freezing.

Polyaspartic technology eliminates a step in the coating process compared to epoxy and urethane combinations, saving labor and material costs and shortening project timelines.

Because lower- and zero-VOC coatings can be achieved with polyaspartic technology, it’s safer to apply in confined spaces.

Bayer Material Science has developed a new polyaspartic urethane coatings technology that could help coatings specifiers shift from two-coat to one-coat solutions in order to reduce complexity and improve productivity. 

One-coat formulations are commonly used in the oil and gas market to increase productivity, decrease down time and reduce waste and inspection.

Bayer’s one-coating tech’s performance was compared against a two-coat epoxy/polyurethane control, and the results have been a revelation by themselves.

“One-coat polyaspartic urethane formulations used in this study showed rapid dry times while maintaining equivalent-to-better performance when compared with traditional epoxy/polyurethane two-coat systems.