If you work in construction, you understand that polyurea is a solid used as a protective coating. Typically, it’s used to contain and line items to reduce corrosion or damage, which is very advantageous in many industries as well as at home uses.
According to Polyurea Development Association, it is a pure elastomer created from a chemical reaction to diisocyanates and diamines resin. It’s one of the toughest synthetic polymers, meaning it has the ability to last for a long time.
There are so many benefits to using pure polyurea that range from ease of use (since it is available in spray form) to its quick reactivity and cure without a catalyst. Without a catalyst, polyurea has better long term stability. However, getting the maximum benefit and increasing the longevity of polyurea is simple.
What you should know
It is very durable and affordable. Polyurea can last for five to ten years in the right environment. With high strength with tensile strength higher than 5,000 psi, polyurea is a very durable material that is very customizable.
Cure time for a spray-on polyurea is a few seconds. The polyaspartic cure time is one and a half to two hours with vehicle traffic in 24 hours. This means that polyurea is an adequate and very fast drying sealant. If polyurea is given enough time to dry without being disturbed, it has a better chance of lasting longer without costly maintenance.
However, polyurea spray coating may have a different hardness that is determined by the way the product is created. It is so diverse that it’s not only available in spray form, but it’s also available in gloss, mate, foam, and even rubber-like consistencies depending upon which project you decide to undertake. Although polyurea is available in many different forms, it still has a durability that may last from five to ten years or more depending upon the care provided to the product.
Polyurea is also highly resistant to oil. It is chemical resistant and scratch resistant if it’s installed correctly and allowed the adequate amount of time to dry. It can be used outside as well as inside, and it is naturally better equipped to handle harsh UV rays. It’s a very durable material overall.
Installing polyurea
There are many places that offer polyurea installation, but it is easy to use and many people simply install it themselves. When installing polyurea residentially, it’s important to use the same base and top coats. Make sure you always mix the chemicals together before applying the chemicals to your desired surface. This ensures a proper installation, and may aid in the longevity of the polyurea.
Polyurea can even be customized to fit your specific needs, but the environment, intended use, the type of application and even temperature during application all play critical factors in the long term durability of the polyurea. Make sure you outline your intended use, location, and other factors involved before applying polyurea to any type of surface.
The benefits of polyurea are very apparent, but how you apply polyurea to a specific surface determines its longevity. Although some may say that it lasts for five to ten years, it has the ability to last for much longer depending upon the installation and usable after it is applied. Polyurea has been used in many industries and will sustain continued usage due to the simple application, the variety of forms, as well as the low cost of the substance.