It’s all in the technology and it is that technology and the latest developments that are leading to the popularity of polyurea surface coatings in Minnesota.

Polyurea coating technology is a rather recent development on the polyurethane coatings industry. Polyurethane chemistry is around six decades old, but elastrometric urethane coatings have been available since the 1970s. In the 1980s, polyurea elastomer technology was introducted with the most common applications being spray coatings and reaction injection moulding.

The cure is rapid at even cold temperatures and there is insensitivity to humidity to exceptional physical properties, such as its high hardness and flexibility. It is also tear resistant and has a high tensile strength. Add in the water and chemical resistance and it is no wonder that it is used as a floor coating. These systems are 100% solids, making them compliant with even the most stringent VOC regulations. Due to its curing profile and the exceptional film properties, the coating is being used for such applications as corrosion containment, protection, and as caulks, membranes, and linings.

It is important to note that the word “polyurea” has been used incorrectly throughout the years. Urethane coatings have a chemistry that can be divided into a number of subsegments. There are different chemical reactions that occur to make the different types of polyurethane coatings. The polyurea coating is the result of a one step reaction of a resin blend component and an isocyanate component.

In addition to the polyurea coating, there are hybrid coatings and a number of others that are used for different purposes.

The exact choice between the different technologies is based upon the different parameters that exist, such as cost and quality. What tends to be the most important is application performance. They hybrid systems tend to have a large scope of application. Polyurea, however, can be used in extreme conditions. Sometimes substrates can be saturated with water or humidity, but poyurea will not allow blistering. They are the most suitable when the following is needed: high curing speed, extreme abrasion resistance, the humidity is high, the membranes are impermeable, there is chemical resistance, or there is high thickness buildup.

This market began developing in the United States, followed by Asia with a strong growth during the second half of the 1990s. It is due to the high tolerance for humidity from the substrate and temperature, as well as it being a suitable concrete coating that makes it so popular in Minnesota and throughout the United States.