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Polyurea
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Polyurea is a type elastomer that is derived from the reaction product of an isocyanate component and a synthetic resin blend component. The isocyanate can be aromatic or aliphatic in nature. It can be monomer, polymer, or any variant reaction of isocyanates, quasi-prepolymer or a prepolymer. The prepolymer, or quasi-prepolymer, can be made of an amine-terminated polymer resin, or a hydroxyl-terminated polymer resin.
The resin blend may be made up of amine-terminated polymer resins, and/or amine-terminated chain extenders.
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Polyurea is a type elastomer that is derived from the reaction product of an isocyanate component and a synthetic resin blend component. The isocyanate can be aromatic or aliphatic in nature. It can be monomer, polymer, or any variant reaction of isocyanates, quasi-prepolymer or a prepolymer. The prepolymer, or quasi-prepolymer, can be made of an amine-terminated polymer resin, or a hydroxyl-terminated polymer resin.
The resin blend may be made up of amine-terminated polymer resins, and/or amine-terminated chain extenders. The amine-terminated polymer resins will not have any intentional hydroxyl moieties. Any hydroxyls are the result of incomplete conversion to the amine-terminated polymer resins. The resin blend may also contain additives, or non-primary components. These additives may contain hydroxyls, such as pre-dispersed pigments in a polyol carrier. Normally, the resin blend will not contain a catalyst(s).
Practical uses
Truck bed liners
Polyurea truck bed liners form a durable, water and air-tight, permanent liner for the exterior of pick up trucks, dump trucks and steel containers. These durable, easy to clean and abrasion resistant liners protect utility trucks from their harsh duty environments. They also protect against rust and corrosion from damaging trucks and containers. Polyurea liners can also be applied in varied thickness to meet any specific application demand. Sprayed on truck bed liners are available in many colors and can be wrapped over the top edge of the truck bed to provide added protection from impact and abrasion.
Pipe and pipeline coatings and linings
Polyurea coatings and linings are increasingly being used to protect steel pipes from corrosion. Polyurea has demonstrated its ability to last longer than paint and maintenance services and costs are reduced. Polyurea is a great protective coating system for pipes that are insulated with polyurethane foam. Polyureas are also being used to line the inside of water and sewer pipes for infrastructure rehabilitation work.
Bridge coating
Polyurea's ability to outlast paint and fight off corrosion is a major reason these systems are being specified for bridge deck and structure coating by State DOT's around the nation. The most common applications of polyurea coatings on bridges are over steel and concrete.
Joint fill / caulk
Polyurea is being successfully used as a multi-purpose joint fill, caulking and sealant material. It can provide a flexible, durable, weather-tight and traffic resistant seal for all types of building joints, such as expansion joints and control joints in masonry floors, perimeter joints, panels and doors, water reservoirs, etc. It has excellent crack-bridging properties with high elongation and tensile strength. The fast cure time and insensitivity to moisture allows for a quicker installation with a wider application window. Proper surface preparation and substrate condition is always necessary.
Holding tanks
Tank coatings
Polyurea coatings protect steel tanks from corrosion, chemicals, and other natural weather and jobsite elements. With proper surface preparation, substrate condition, formulation choice, primers, and installation procedures, polyurea goes on fast and stays on long. Polyureas are great for extending the life of older tanks and can offer limited structural characteristics as well. These systems can be applied during primary construction or in a retrofit environment. With their fast cure times they are ideal for retrofit since down time is significantly minimized compared to some competing materials.
Tank linings
Polyurea linings are resistant to many chemicals and industrial liquids. With their fast application advantages and ability to adhere to properly prepared substrates, polyureas are ideal for new storage tank primary lining and rehabilitation projects.
Waste water treatment linings
Fast cure, chemical and abrasion resistant, concrete primary and secondary containment linings.
Aquarium lining
Aquariums have also found benefits with polyurea. The ability to form to properly prepared custom shaped walls and themed ornaments make this system desirable. A spray applied, water resistant liner, available in a variety of colors with rapid return to service installation is why facility owners are turning to polyurea.
Landscape & water containment
Landscape designers and contractors have found similar benefits with polyurea. Polyurea is often used to contain water for ponds and pool decorations to form a primary containment liner. Use of geotextile material is common when applying polyurea over dirt. Proper surface condition is vital when applying over concrete and most other substrates.
Marine
Above the water line and below, polyurea can be very effective in protecting steel, aluminum, and fiberglass in a variety of water sport and commercial marine applications. From sound attenuation for fishing canoes, to fish hold liners, to hull protection and bilge liners, polyureas are used in many abrasion, chemical and corrosion resistant marine applications.
Roof coating
Polyurea coatings make an excellent protective covering for polyurethane foam roofs. Polyurea can be formulated to meet specific performance requirements due the wide range of physical properties that can be formulated. Some systems have the "Cool Roof" ENERGY STAR rating for color and reflectivity. These reflective coatings can help reduce the amount energy consumption buildings use for heating and cooling. The fast cure time and insensitivity to moisture allows for a quicker installation with a wider application window. Proper surface preparation and substrate condition is always necessary.
Polyurea is also an excellent solution for waterproofing leaky metal roofing. The elastomeric nature of the membrane/coating system dictates that a properly processed application should easily absorb the natural expansion and contraction cycles of the metal roof without tearing or fracture. This is critical for long term successful service life. As with any roofing system, proper surface preparation is needed.
Manhole & sewer linings
Polyurea manhole lining is a rapidly growing market due to polyurea’s ability to solve many current issues with groundwater infiltration and installation speed. Many municipal and private water systems are in great need of lining and structural repair. With proper surface preparation and substrate conditions, primers and Polyurea can be applied fast to return the cavity to service faster than most competitive systems. Polyurea’s ability to form a monolithic, durable liner protects the cavity from sediment and groundwater infiltration into municipal wastewater systems.
Theme park & decorative design
Theme Parks often use polyurea as a protective coating over foam, EPS and other structures to create ornamental building fascia, themed characters, artificial rocks, pools and environments.
Flooring and parking decks
Polyurea flooring systems are most popular for their rapid turnaround installation capabilities. Other benefits are available with polyurea flooring systems as well. Polyureas are very durable and great for use in areas of high traffic. They are used in clean/dirty rooms as a waterproofing and protective coating from daily pressure cleaning operations. Polyurea can be formulated to be flexible and resilient allowing the flooring system to protect objects that may fall upon them.
Architectural design
Polyurea has much the same uses in architectural design as it does in theme park applications. Polyurea is used as a protective coating over foam, EPS and other structures to create ornamental building fascia, themed characters, artificial rocks, pools and environments. There are many uses for movie set and theater stage design as well.
Automotive fascia OEM molded parts
Polyurea can be spray, open pour or reaction injected into molds. Many automotive fascia parts have been molded from polyurea RIM systems. Now many spray in mold uses are becoming popular in replacing parts commonly made from fiberglass. Water park chutes, plaques, automotive aftermarket fascia and spoilers, architectural decorative molding, and more...
Water parks & playgrounds
Molded slides, protective coating of seats for wet/dry amusement rides, tank linings, water containment, aquariums, concrete stadium seats are just a few of the many applications polyureas are commonly used for in the amusement and theme park industry. Polyureas usage is rapidly growing in applications to replace paint and fiberglass due its fast cure and ability to reduce maintenance cycles.
Railcar lining & track containment
Polyureas are commonly used to line liquid containment railcars for their waterproofing and chemical resistance benefits. Hopper style rail cars have benefited from the strength of polyurea and its ability to resist abrasion. These cars often carry coal, sand, and other abrasive materials. Polyurea can be applied quickly and it will last longer than many other conventional systems if properly applied.
Line striping
Polyurea is a very fast set material, which makes it ideal for use in line striping and pavement marking. It can be returned to service for traffic and pedestrian use in only a few minutes (depends on formulation) after application.
Polyurea is much more durable than paint and typically lasts much longer between maintenance cycles. Polyurea is the clear choice when it comes to cost/performance payback and operation.
Spray molding
The use of Polyureas for spray in mold processes are gaining momentum with the advent of low output spray guns. Polyureas have very fast reaction times and are meter mixed and dispensed through plural component equipment. These materials are dry to the touch within seconds after application reducing demold time dramatically. Physical properties of these materials can be altered by the system formulator to meet application requirements.
Armor
In some cases polyurea has been tested for its ability as armor. With some polyureas reaching strengths of 6000psi tensile and over 500% elongation makes it a very tough coating. With its naturally quick reaction times it can be built up to any thickness.
Other applications
• Race car body parts
• Mold making
• Artificial rock
• Racking Dunnage
Fuel storage & containment
Polyurea is resistant to many fuels and chemicals. It is commonly used in fuel pits and pipeline secondary containment. Polyurea is not resistant to all chemicals and necessary compatibility tests and surface preparation are always required.
- Definition per the Polyurea Development Association
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