Troy - Canadian Polyurea - Protective Coatings

5 Reasons Why Armorthane is the Best Canadian Polyurea Manufacturer

In this blog post, we’ll discuss why ArmorThane is the best Canadian polyurea manufacturer and what makes them stand out in terms of quality, innovation, and customer service. First, let’s cover what Polyurea is and why you should join this revolutionary new industry.

What Is Polyurea?

Polyurea is a type of sprayable coating that is rapidly gaining popularity in the world of industrial and commercial applications. This cutting-edge technology offers a range of benefits, including exceptional durability, chemical resistance, and faster curing times than traditional coatings like epoxy and urethane. Polyurea coatings can be used for various applications, from waterproofing to protective coatings for metals, concrete, and other surfaces.

What Are The Key Characteristics Of Polyurea?

One of the unique properties of polyurea is its flexibility. It can expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity without cracking or peeling. Plus, polyurea coatings have excellent resistance to chemicals and abrasions, making them ideal for industrial facilities where harsh chemicals or heavy machinery can cause wear and tear on flooring and other surfaces.

Polyurea coatings also offer excellent adhesion, which allows the coating to remain attached to the substrate without delamination or chipping.

Polyurea vs. Epoxy and Urethane

Polyurea coatings share some similarities with epoxy and urethane coatings, but they also have several key differences. Polyurea coatings cure much faster than epoxy and urethane coatings, which require a longer wait time before returning to service. Also, epoxy coatings tend to be more brittle and are prone to cracking. Urethane coatings are more flexible than epoxy coatings, but they have less chemical and abrasion resistance than polyurea.

Why You Should Join The Polyurea Industry

Starting a polyurea coating business is a lucrative venture. The growing demand for this versatile coating material in various industries presents enormous opportunities for entrepreneurs. Polyurea coatings have high-profit margins, a wide range of applications, low overhead costs, and are eco-friendly, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to break into the coatings industry. If you are considering starting a coatings business, take a closer look at polyurea coatings. It may be the best investment you ever make.

Ok now that you have that information, let’s talk about who ArmorThane is and why they are the top polyurea manufacturer in Canada.

Who Is ArmorThane?

If you are looking for a durable and versatile spray-on coating for your commercial or industrial needs, you might have come across the name ‘Armorthane’. Armorthane is a specialized line of polyurea coating systems that has established its reputation as a leading solution in various industries, including automotive, marine, construction, and manufacturing. But what exactly is Armorthane and how does it differ from other spray-on coatings? In this article, we will take a comprehensive look at Armorthane and its features that make it a popular choice for Canadian contractors.

Quality standards
ArmorThane prides itself on producing the highest quality polyurea coatings in Canada. They use only the best raw materials to ensure their products meet strict quality standards. Their state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities adhere to ISO 9001:2015 certification and follow rigorous testing and inspection protocols. ArmorThane’s polyurea coatings undergo extensive testing for adhesion, abrasion resistance, impact resistance, weathering, and chemical resistance. This ensures that their coatings can withstand extreme environments and provide long-term protection and durability for various substrates.
Innovation and customization
ArmorThane is a company that constantly strives to innovate and improve its products. They have a dedicated research and development team that’s continuously looking for ways to enhance their polyurea coatings’ performance, versatility, and sustainability. They also offer custom formulations to meet specific customer needs and requirements. This means that they can create polyurea coatings that are tailored to a particular substrate, application, color, texture, or thickness. ArmorThane’s customization capabilities allow them to provide more options and solutions for their clients, making them a preferred Canadian polyurea manufacturer.
Expertise and support
ArmorThane has a team of highly trained and experienced professionals who support their customers throughout the purchase and application process. They provide technical guidance, training, and troubleshooting assistance to ensure that their polyurea coatings are properly applied and meet the desired results. They also offer project consulting services to help customers select the right coatings for their specific applications and budgets. ArmorThane’s focus on customer support and satisfaction sets them apart from other polyurea manufacturers in Canada.
Sustainability and eco-friendliness
ArmorThane is committed to sustainable manufacturing practices and eco-friendliness. They use environmentally friendly raw materials and production processes that minimize waste, emissions, and energy consumption. Their polyurea coatings are VOC-free, non-toxic, and odorless, making them safe for people and the environment. ArmorThane also supports green initiatives and promotes recycling and waste reduction in their operations. Their sustainability efforts demonstrate their dedication to social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
Customer testimonials and success stories
Finally, one of the best ways to gauge a manufacturer’s reputation and quality is to look at their customer testimonials and success stories. ArmorThane has a long list of satisfied clients from various industries who have used their polyurea coatings for a wide range of applications, from truck bed liners and industrial flooring to water park attractions and military vehicles. These testimonials and success stories attest to the quality, durability, and versatility of ArmorThane’s polyurea coatings and their ability to meet and exceed customer expectations.

In conclusion, ArmorThane is the best Canadian polyurea manufacturer due to its commitment to quality, innovation, customer support, sustainability, and proven track record. Whether you’re a contractor, a business owner, or an individual seeking reliable and efficient protective coatings for your projects, ArmorThane is the ideal choice. Contact them today to learn more about their products and services and how they can help you achieve your goals.

Why ArmorThanes Offers the Best Polyurea in Canada

Polyurea has become the top choice in coating and lining solutions because of its seamless, durable, and versatile properties. In Canada, a handful of companies now offer polyurea services, but among them, ArmorThanes is undoubtedly the best. This blog post will highlight why ArmorThanes is the leader in providing polyurea in Canada.

Quality materials and expertise
ArmorThanes uses only top-quality materials for its polyurea coatings and linings. The company ensures that its raw materials are certified and of the highest grade before using them in any project. Also, ArmorThanes has a team of experienced technicians and applicators who have undergone intensive training and are certified in polyurea applications. This combination of quality materials and expertise ensures that customers receive only the best quality and service.
Custom-fit solutions for all purposes
ArmorThanes understands that every customer’s needs are unique. The company ensures that every project is individually designed to meet the customer’s specific requirements. Whether it’s industrial flooring, tank linings, or spray foam insulation, ArmorThanes offers custom-fit solutions catering to every customer’s needs and budget.
Environmental-friendly products and processes
ArmorThanes understands the importance of protecting the environment. The company uses eco-friendly products and employs sustainable processes to ensure that their services do not harm the environment. Additionally, ArmorThanes’ polyurea coatings and linings are safe for human and animal contact, making them ideal for use in food processing and agriculture facilities.
Prompt and efficient service
ArmorThanes is committed to delivering prompt and efficient service to its customers. The company ensures that all projects are completed within the agreed timelines and budgets. Also, their highly skilled technicians and applicators use the latest technology and equipment to ensure that every project is completed with precision and to the highest standard.
Comprehensive warranty
ArmorThanes offers one of the best warranties in the industry. The company’s polyurea coatings and linings come with a comprehensive warranty that covers both the materials and labor. This warranty gives customers peace of mind, knowing that they are covered in case of any issues with their projects.

In conclusion, ArmorThanes offers the best polyurea in Canada because of its quality materials, expertise, custom-fit solutions, environmental-friendly products, efficient service, and comprehensive warranty. The company’s commitment to excellence, sustainability, and customer satisfaction makes it the top choice for polyurea services in Canada. With ArmorThanes, customers are guaranteed the best quality and service that ensures their projects are delivered to the highest standard, on time, and within budget.

The Difference Between a Spray Foam Machine and a Polyurea Spray Machine

A company that deals with spraying insulation and coating materials must make the correct equipment selections. Understanding the various forms of spray machinery is crucial for performing tasks properly since the equipment or instrument used to complete a task is frequently a deciding factor.

Because they require different amounts of pressure to be applied, coating equipment and spray machines are not equivalent in their capacity to operate with specific materials. Lower-pressure machines are typically solely used to spray foam, but most high-pressure rated equipment could be interchangeable regardless of whether it is used to spray polyurea or foam. Foam application can be done by machines with pressures between 800 and 2000 psi, whereas the optimum material dispersion for coatings requires pressures of at least 1850 to 3500 psi. The caveat in this situation is that lower pressure machines are only appropriate for spray foam because they are not used with lengthy hoses, as those need higher pressure to spread the material adequately.

Air-Driven and Pneumatic Machinery
Although air-driven or pneumatic equipment has been around for more than 60 years, technology has advanced significantly in overall efficacy. These machines’ technology is based on a simple two-component setup: two pumps driven by an air motor that operates within a specific pressure ratio. How much material a machine can disperse in terms of fluid pressure is correlated with its psi rating. The machine can deliver 25 psi of fluid pressure for every pound of applied air pressure if the pressure ratio is 25:1.

Pneumatic systems will evenly disperse the application as long as the host has a large enough diameter to discharge the required material. The fact that this technology has been around for a long time and is quite reliable is not surprising, but a clear disadvantage is that it does not allow for effective pressure monitoring, burdening the operator with the responsibility of checking the foam for proper application and distribution.

Due to its relative simplicity and reduced price, pneumatic equipment is frequently the first choice for newly established enterprises. Yet, when business expands and bigger jobs become necessary, more output machinery becomes necessary.

Hydraulic Apparatus
Hydraulic equipment, which was first used to apply polyurea coatings and dual-component foam in the 1970s, operates chemical proportioning pumps using hydraulic power. Some of the systems even have a valve that changes the sprayer’s direction. The machine’s most enticing feature is its quick pump switchover, which causes very little pressure loss as the direction changes.

The hydraulic application enables improved monitoring techniques to ensure that the chemical combination is uniform and proportional during application because the chemicals used in spray foam need to mix before application. If the system detects improper operation or inadequate mixing, it immediately shuts down to stop the distribution of defective products, allowing the operator to address the problem rather than use subpar product.

The heating point for polyurea and foam chemicals must be between 100 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. These higher-quality hydraulic systems ensure that high-quality foam is added by heating the chemicals to the required temperatures and maintaining that temperature with heated hoses.

Using a hydraulic machine to spray foam has been proven to be particularly useful when it comes to large-area applications, such as coating broad rooftops, since it allows for outstanding heat performance and maximum output.

Electric apparatus
Electric spray systems are perfect for contractors looking to buy polyurea equipment because they provide a fantastic performance value when high throughput is needed for coating or spray foam application jobs.

Electric machines have the advantage of maintaining proper stall pressure levels when the equipment is on but not in use, as well as keeping a constant pressure as the spray or coating applicator is triggered.

The two mixing pumps are kept at the same fluid pressure by the motor control technician, who also manages the electrical current flowing through the motor. As the pumps and applicator orifices are comparable, the proportioner must operate at roughly the same pump pressure for a 1:1 chemical ratio to be achieved. In order to prevent the user from spraying faulty foam or coating, modern equipment will quickly shut down if the pump pressures start to drift out of balance and lose sync. An error message will also advise the user of the reason for the shutdown.

Electric appliances’ heating feature is also quite advantageous. Electric spray foam systems require high primary heater temperatures to successfully heat the ingredients to the required heating point. While most contractors rely on hoses to keep the product’s heated temperature constant while it is being sprayed, cooler temperatures might cool down insulated hoses, necessitating their warming before they can actually perform as intended. A lot of time would be lost if the machines had been idle for a long time before the hoses reached the point at which they could maintain the required heat temperatures.

Electric systems are not only dependable, but they may also last a very long time with adequate maintenance. They require investment and additional expenses for upkeep, but they will be less expensive than purchasing a brand-new piece of machinery. Such systems have a history of lasting 15 to 25 years.

Conclusion

The PMC polyurea machine and the Graco polyurea machine are two options to check at if you’re looking for a polyurea spray machine for sale. Think about the Graco or PMC foam machine for spray foam insulation. You may find various solutions here that are appropriate for all different types of jobs whether you’re seeking for new or secondhand polyurea spray equipment for sale.

Contact ArmorThane for more info on purchasing this equipment.

Cashing In On The Polyurea Market

In the ever-expanding sprayed-polyurea coatings market, the margin of error is incomparably narrower than for conventional coatings. While opportunities abound for contractors to jump on the polyurea bandwagon successfully, the growing variety of applications and the superior properties of sprayed polyurea need d attention given to the dispensing machinery involved.

The following explanation can quickly help any applicator understand the polyurea application process, the interplay between the various pieces of equipment, and the important design considerations of the pump, hoses, and spray gun. This experience can help open the door to a whole new market for coatings businesses that wish to advance their business.

The Newest Frontier in Coatings

Polyurea has become highly utilized for various applications previously dominated by epoxy, acrylic, and polyurethane. Specifically, the aliphatic polyurea compounds frequently find themselves as the coating of choice due to their superior mechanical properties.

Capable of smoothly adhering to substrates like cement, brick, and fiberglass, polyureas are now used for scores of building applications such as encapsulating asbestos ceilings or coating floors. Unlike polyurethanes, polyureas cure under high moisture and humidity conditions, as long as the correct surface preparation is undertaken.

Within the manufacturing and process industries, polyureas are now used in everything from the lining of storage tanks to covering shop floors and plant walls. Polyureas vastly outperform paint, which often cannot hold up to rigorous cleaning procedures practiced in pharmaceutical and food processing plants, for example. The remarkably fast reaction time (3 to 7 seconds) of polyurea systems appeals to facility management as it permits quick installation with only minimal disruption to process operations.

These performance benefits explain, in part, why the booming demand for polyurea systems should continue well into the future. “From what we’ve learned as an association, in addition to my interactions with applicators in the field and companies that manufacture the systems and the raw materials, I see a 15 to 20 percent growth per year in this industry,” says Dudley Primeaux, former president of the Polyurea Development Association and owner of Primeaux Associates LLC of Austin, Texas. As the prime inventor of sprayed-polyurea systems, Primeaux is well-positioned to provide consulting advice to contractors interested in entering the field.

A Little Background Knowledge Goes a Long Way

Polyurea systems are formed from the combination of two components: isocyanate and an amine resin. These components’ union forms an extremely flexible urea linkage, unlike the crystalline nature of polyurethane systems. The initial formulations were introduced in 1986 when somebody told Primeaux, then a chemist with Texaco Chemical Co./Huntsman Chemical, that polyureas couldn’t be sprayed. The system worked the first time because the equipment delivered both the A and B components in a predictable, consistent manner.

The first commercial sprayed-polyurea coating was delivered for a roofing system in 1989, and the history of coatings systems has been forever changed. But the polyureas provide optimum performance only when mixed correctly, and according to Primeaux, choosing the right equipment to handle this task is critical.

The Challenge of Getting the Right Mix

No chemical catalyst is required, but special plural equipment is required due to the extremely fast reactivity and cure. High pressure is necessary to force the components to mix. High temperatures are also needed to lower the viscosity to enhance the mix and atomization. Heating occurs at the pump and the hoses, while the actual mixing takes place inside the components meet at high velocity. This mechanical mixing is critical to uniform concentration (hence, better adherence. The importance of obtaining equipment specifically designed to spray polyureas cannot be over-stressed.

The quality and the tolerances in the manufacturing of the spraying equipment make a huge impact on the output of your product,” stresses Primeaux. “Good equipment costs more, but this is not the place to skimp when you want to spray polyurea. The key to processing is within the proportioning pump and the spray gun. This is the ‘life support’ system for proper installation and application.”

It All Begins at the Pump

When spraying with polyureas, special consideration starts with the selection of a high-output pump. Increased pressure delivers more kinetic energy to the mixing zone. Pumps can be either pneumatic or hydraulically operated. Both types still require an air compressor because the air drives the drum pumps that deliver the material. The choice in pumps is then divided into either a vertical or horizontal layout.

The vertical pump has been the traditional choice of paint contractors. However, with high-solids coating systems like polyureas, verticals will not fill components of different viscosity at the same time and rate of speed. An imbalance of pressure will always be noted between the up and downstroke. This often results in a pulsating flow of material to the spray gun and affects the spray pattern and the coating consistency.

Polyureas must be mixed with an even and strong head of pressure. If the pressure varies on one side or the other, the quality of the mixed material and the spray pattern’s consistency at the gun can be adversely affected. And without sufficient volume, poor mix, atomization, and application result.

Hoses

The hoses that carry the gun components must also be heated; otherwise, all the gains in breaking down the pump’s viscosity would be lost. Regular hoses, designed for polyurethanes, cannot handle the higher temperatures and pressures required for spraying polyureas. While the initial healing takes place within the pump, the hoses must maintain that temperature throughout their entire length — even as long as a football field. Such demands require specially designed hoses.

Primeaux added that, depending on the length, hoses should include a “step-down” inside diameter (ID) to minimize pressure drop at the spray gun. In other words, the ID at the pump end of the hoses is larger than the hose section near the gun.

The Spray Gun

Guns are divided into the categories, mechanical and air, depending on how the material is purged out of the chamber when detriggering occurs. Solvent purge guns are also occasionally utilized for hard-to-mix or off-ratio spray applications.

Representing the most applicable spray gun for the application of polyurea technology is the mechanical purge spray gun. With a machine gun, the valving rod’s return at detriggering seals off and completely flushes out the mixing chamber area. The tight fit of the valving rod, along with the high-pressure kinetic force of its movement, cleans all unwanted material out.

“The mechanical purge gun gives the best mix and properties, partly because of the dynamics within the mixing chamber,” says Primeaux. “You also get a complete purge out of the mixing chamber, which eliminates the possibility of the hold-up of product inside that chamber. The problem with hold-up is that it affects the incoming material and the subsequent mix.”

With air purge guns, a blast of air blows the material out upon detriggering between sprays. Here, the valving rod moves back and forth to allow air to enter the mixing chamber instead of just material.

The shortcoming of air purge guns is that since air is used to purge, the pressure must be consistently high to flush the chamber completely. If not, the tip will become plugged. An additional problem occurs whenever air enters the mixing chamber. Contaminants such as oil and water could be introduced from the air compressor onto the substrate. This can cause blistering and delamination of the polyurea coating.

Additional Gun Considerations

Other considerations when choosing a gun are gun geometry and construction. Maintenance and speed of operation also rank as important factors when selecting polyurea spray systems. Operator ergonomics should be taken into account as well. Finally, contractors new to the polyurea spraying industry should also seek an equipment manufacturer that provides good support and a commitment to maintaining a ready spare parts inventory.

Do the Job Right the First Time

Ultimately, contractors reap the benefits of knowing which equipment to use for entering the field of sprayed polyureas. On the other hand, the consequences of ignorance can put a contractor out of business.

When working in the trenches with these applicators, you can see the results of using poor equipment right up front. I know of one case where a guy did a job for a customer, but two things went wrong. The contractor didn’t do the right surface prep, and the equipment was not suitable for the field application of polyurea. When the coating failed, the customer sued the contractor several times for what the d was worth because of lost revenue.

SPRAY, COAT, AND CONTAIN

Traditional coatings have been too inflexible and not sufficiently elastic to accommodate ground, concrete, or metal substrate movement for primary or secondary containment. This deficiency can lead to cracks or holes forming in both the substrate and the coatings, which can compromise containment. However, the formulation of tough, monolithic, flexible coatings such as polyurea is now resolving this issue for contractors, engineers, and facility managers. When applied directly to concrete or metal surfaces, polyurea not only strengthens and protects lite underlying substrate but can also bridge gaps or cracks of 1/8″ or larger.

Furthermore, polyurea is now being applied to geotextile liners that can be swiftly rolled out in sheets to protect more heavily diminished surfaces or for use in field applications such as dirt or gravel pads at drilling sites. Once installed, applicators need only coat the liners’ seams to create a monolithic surface suitable for containment. Whether at refineries, industrial plants, or other manufacturing plants, regulations demand the use of primary and secondary containment systems to keep toxic or hazardous substances from escaping into the ground and potentially entering the water supply.

This implies primary containment is not foolproof. Though durable, metals corrode, concrete cracks, and is permeable, it will drain liquids if uncoated.
Therefore, secondary containment, in the form of concrete pits with barriers installed around the perimeter of a tank or other storage container, is often needed. To protect these structures, coatings such as epoxies, tars, and polyurethanes are often applied as an added protection wall. However, these traditional coatings are often inflexible when cured and can crack along with the concrete. Typical coatings do not hold up well to substrate movement or daily, seasonal, or process-related thermal expansion and contraction, which can lead to cracks and leaks.

After considerable research and testing, Collins says he turned to an advanced polyurea system from ArmorThane, a spray-applied polyurea manufacturer for primary and secondary containment. When applied to substrates such as concrete or steel, the spray-applied waterproof coating creates a durable, seamless, flexible, protective barrier that stops leaks and strengthens primary and secondary containment systems’ integrity. The coating exhibits superior physical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, and crack bridging and elongation up to 400% to create a robust, industrial-grade protective lining.

Polyurea can bridge cracks as well as flex at a rate similar to concrete and steel. This not only helps it last but also seals the concrete, so does Secondary containment, in the form of concrete pits tamers instated around the perimeter of a tank or other storage container, is often required as a back-up to primary containment does not absorb contaminants if there is a spill inside the contained area. While traditional coatings such as cementitious, epoxies, tars, and polyurethanes will prematurely fail if not installed under a relatively narrow range of temperatures, polyurea is designed for installation and use from ~4O°F to *35OCF. It sets and cures quickly and will withstand decades of freeze-thaw cycling and wide
After spraying the polyurea, return to service is almost instantaneous variations of temperature and humidity. After spraying the polyurea, return to service is almost instantaneous, making a big difference in minimizing production downtime.

They coated about 8,000 sq. ft. of concrete in 12 truck-offloading areas that required drive-in containment with ArmorThane polyurea. In some instances, trucks were safely driving across the concrete within minutes of spray application. Instead of spraying polyurea directly to the substrate, pre-sprayed composite panels can offer advantages for containment over soil, gravel, or even concrete that is too damaged to be effectively rehabilitated.

Repairing plastic liners also presents a problem at the seams, when damaged areas are cut out and new sections. Polyurea products are so much more durable than plastics for containment systems. When needed, they can custom apply more polyurea millage to geotextile panels and berms to accommodate even the heaviest truck use and vehicle abuse. To verify the strength of the polyurea coating on containment mats and berms, in fact, Collins conducted several tests.

They also ran 6,044 fully loaded water trucks across a containment system, and it withstood it with zero holes and no compromise to the liner. Collins credits both the durability of the ArmorThane polyurea and its extended recoating window for the ability of his company to reuse its containment systems extensively. To reuse a containment system, they cut it up into rolls, roll it up and move it. Then, take it back out, respond to certain areas, and reinstall the original containment system at another location. They’ve found the extended open window for recoat and repair of the polyurea allows them to cut out any damaged section of geotextile easily, put a new piece in, and spray the seams to make it virtually seamless again. They get better repair and more reuse out of our containment systems.

A Look At The Everchanging Industrial Protective Coating Market

Amine-cured epoxy is one of the most successful chemically resistant coatings on the market. They tend to come as epoxy with filler and other additives on the A-side and amine curative on the B side. When mixed, they give a sprayable coating with a very workable pot life and good adhesion to a wide variety of substrates. The cured epoxy coating’s ultimate chemical resistance will depend on several key factors, including the chemical composition of both the epoxy and the amine curative, the types of fillers and additives used, and the cure temperature and time.

Crosslink density of traditional epoxy coating compared to polymer-modified epoxy coating.

With a low crosslink density, a coating is susceptible to penetration from corrosive chemicals, which can eventually reach the substrate, creating corrosion and leading to its ultimate failure. However, with a very high crosslink density, the product provides a virtually impenetrable barrier between the chemical and the substrate. Also, chemicals do not penetrate the coating, which can occur in common epoxies, leading to blistering, splitting, and coating degradation.

Chemical penetration of coatings with different crosslink densities.

In a low-crosslink-density coating, the chemicals will penetrate through the coating to the substrate, causing substrate corrosion. Because the solvent has penetrated the coating, both the epoxy and amine curing agent bonds will be broken by chemical attack. As for the coating with high crosslink density, the chemicals will be unable to penetrate the coating. This will not only protect the substrate from corrosion but also protect the coating itself from any damage.

With the emerging needs for both industrial and marine applications, coatings have a wide range of technical requirements in addition to chemical resistance. We will cover the technical and market needs for each of these requirements along with recent developments to meet these demands.

SEM of coatings with different crosslink densities.

Coatings for Sulfuric Acid

Sulfuric acid is a very important industrial chemical used for such things as the manufacturing of phosphate fertilizers, purification of petroleum, acids, along with being used as a pickling medium for metals, and in storage batteries.

Two-component epoxy coatings show excellent resistance to sulfuric acid of most concentrations and transportation and storage temperatures. They have been used successfully for years, but unfortunately can darken upon exposure to sulfuric acid.

Sulfuric acid immersion testing of improved catalyst for 2K epoxy coating.

Coating Inspection Facilitation

Ensuring the integrity of the coating is critical for the protection of the substrate. Failure of the coating cannot only cause destruction to the vessel, costing the owner both time and money, but it can also pose a danger to workers and the surrounding environment. Proper inspection of the coating itself can be time-consuming and expensive, and based on the vessel’s geometry being examined, some areas can be very hard to probe. Coatings must regularly be examined for damage to make sure that there are no cracks, holes, or chips. The entire vessel must be examined after draining and cleaning, which can be difficult again because of the complex geometries along with the hazards associated with sending workers into the vessels for review.

Fluorescent basecoat and standard gray topcoat with defects purposely introduced.

Coatings should expedite the inspection process, reducing chances of coating failure and overall simplifying the inspection process.

Immersion testing of chemically resistant 2K epoxy fluorescent basecoat/standard topcoat.

Antistatic Coatings

Static electricity presents a very significant risk for not only the safety of people and property but also of products that are susceptible to static electricity, such as electronics components.

Chemical resistance of static dissipate 2K polymer-modified epoxy coating.

Improved Abrasion Resistance

Coatings used to stock chemicals and other substances can sustain damage from abrasion, such as the loading and unloading of supplies in the form of slurries or from cleaning procedures. Applications that could benefit from an improvement in abrasion resistance could include hopper cars, slurry pipes, legs of oil platforms, pumps, coal chutes, baghouses, and ion exchange vessels. Epoxy coatings can provide great chemical resistance through a high degree of crosslinking and the correct chemical structure, however this can lead to a coating that can be brittle and subject to damage from abrasion.

Abrasion resistance of chemical-resistant coatings.

Field-Repairable Coatings

Recent changes to regulations from the American Association of Railroads (AAR) require that for a tank car facility to be certified, it must be able to demonstrate the procedure to repair coatings on a periodic basis. 9 High-bake phenolic coatings are widely used in the rail industry due to their excellent chemical resistance to a wide variety of products. Repair of high-bake phenolic coatings requires that the tank car first be returned to the facility, where the coating repair would then be demonstrated. The coating repair of high-bake phenolics requires that the entire tank car be taken up to high temperatures (350 °F to 400 °F), which can damage the exterior paint and stencils. This adds an extreme amount of cost for the tank car facility, along with a great deal of time for the tank cars to be out of service. Having a coating that can have its repair demonstrated in the field is therefore very important to tank car facilities. Two-part epoxy coatings can meet these needs.

Abrasion resistance of coatings containing SiC whiskers or carbon nanotubes (mg/1,000 cycles).

Future Industry Needs

Vessel owners continue to look for ways to reduce operating expenses, and therefore chemical-resistant coatings must deliver opportunities to achieve these goals. One such opportunity is for coatings that release cargo from the walls faster than current technologies. This would allow for quicker unloading of vessels, along with easier cleaning, allowing for less time between unloading and loading. Ability to carry different chemicals would also save vessel owners time and money. The same asset could be used to transport or store a wide variety of chemicals, eliminating the need to either re-coat current vessels or to possess different storage options for each chemical. The coating should therefore be resistant to the widest variety of chemicals possible and should not absorb chemicals that can later be released and contaminate the next chemical loaded into the vessel.

Conclusion

Developments in chemically resistant, 2K polymer-modified epoxy coatings have met several market needs, including carry of sulfuric acid, coating inspection facilitation, improved abrasion resistance, anti-static coatings, and field-repairable coatings. These coating systems continue to be rulers in chemical-resistant applications in both marine and industrial applications, and will meet anticipated market needs through continued innovation.

A Look At The Canadian Polyurea Industry

Canada remains an integral part of the global Coatings Industry, and there are several Canadian Polyurea manufacturers, such as ArmorThane. The market is rather stable at the moment and slowly growing more towards innovation.

If you look at the total numbers in the Canadian Polyurea Industry, the market size in 2017 was around CAD 12.3 billion. These numbers have ballooned since that release. More than 80.000 people now work directly or indirectly in the coating industry. Over 230 coating and paint manufacturers are based across Canada, owning and operating more than 3.000 retail stores and supply another 4.000 retail stores with their products.

As in every coating industry, the Canadian coating market is also complex and has many local expert companies across the country such as in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary & Ottawa. Sometimes it’s difficult to determine which company and coating product best suit your project. With our extensive databases, experience, and knowledge, we are ready to help you with these choices with our 100% free quotation service. You can connect with us through the “Contact” and “Request a Quote” buttons on our website.

Be sure to look out for our Canadian company review article, which will be coming within a matter of days. We are in the final stages of our testing and will be updating you with all those results as soon as we are able.

Canadian Polyurea - Protective Coatings

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