Are Marine Coatings Necessary?

Strictly speaking, no, marine coatings aren’t necessary. However, for many private, commercial, and industrial applications, marine coatings may be all but required. They’re used to protect marine structures like ships or docks from the harsh conditions of seas, oceans, and other saltwater and freshwater environments. Without them, marine structures are more susceptible to corrosion, fouling, and other common stressors.

Are Marine Coatings Worth It?

Marine coatings have become nearly ubiquitous, and for good reason. Marine coatings can help greatly extend the lifetime and performance of ships, docks, buoys, propellers, offshore structures and more. They protect against corrosion, fouling, forceful impacts, harsh abrasion, and many other risk factors, making them well worth the investment for almost any marine infrastructure.

What Are The Disadvantages To Marine Coatings?

One of the biggest disadvantages to marine coatings is that no matter the type or quality of protective coatings, marine conditions are aggressive enough to wear even the newest and most advanced materials technology. They should be professionally applied and carefully maintained, and it’s critical to choose the right marine coatings for each unique application.

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Sailors have been revered as some of the toughest among us since the dawn of history; people who weather extreme conditions for months or even years at a time with no guarantee of a safe return. Now imagine their ships! While there’s no doubt that sailors are tough, their vessels and equipment are the unsung heroes of any voyage. Exposed to corrosive saltwater, constant moisture, biological contaminants, mechanical stress, and countless other hazards, we depend on modern marine infrastructure to withstand these environments for our food, travel, consumer goods, scientific research, and everything in between. To help protect marine structures like boats, tankers, offshore structures, and more, marine coatings can be used to create a durable waterproof barrier to shield marine surfaces from myriad physical and chemical risk factors.

TYPES OF MARINE COATINGS

Marine coatings are often categorized by their intended function and include two main types: anti-corrosive and antifouling coatings. Anti-corrosive coatings are applied to metal surfaces, used to protect against rust and subsequent deterioration caused by constant exposure to saltwater and high-moisture. Instead of protecting against chemical degradation, antifouling coatings are used to address biological risk factors by preventing marine organisms from accumulating on the hull of vessels or the submerged surfaces of other types of marine equipment. In both cases anti-corrosive and antifouling coatings are used to preserve structural integrity and maintain performance requirements, and without them, modern marine activities from leisurely rides at the lake to global container shipping are more dangerous, expensive, and challenging. And this, no pun intended, is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the different types of marine coatings! Numerous technologies have been developed and deployed, each with their own unique benefits and drawbacks, from niche self-polishing paints to versatile polyurea marine coatings.

THE BENEFITS OF MARINE COATINGS

Marine coatings serve one fundamental function: to extend the lifetime and performance of marine structures. How exactly they do this depends on the type of coating, marine environment, marine equipment, and numerous other factors and considerations. However, in any case each serves as a protective barrier that shields marine surfaces from the many dangers they’re constantly exposed to. For anti-corrosive coatings this is accomplished by fighting against rust to see structural material in-tact and unharmed even after sailing the high seas. For antifouling coatings their protection against heavy and potentially damaging marine organisms means a safer, faster, and more fuel-efficient journey. And the list goes on; from bumpy landings at the dock, to abrasive loading and unloading of tools and equipment, or an ambitious trip across the world, marine coatings offer advanced protection against the wild world of maritime activities.

BEYOND MARINE FEATURES

Marine coatings first and foremost must be able to protect structures from the hazards in their environment, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have anything else to offer! Marine coatings provide many of the same benefits as other types of protective coatings and can be used to create safer and more user-friendly textures, customize aesthetics to match company branding or personal preference, or to protect from unique risk factors that are less common to the typical marine environment among countless other interesting and useful applications. And don’t just think boats, docks, and buoys – think patios, porches, pool decks, and walkways. Marine coatings can be used anywhere water and moisture threaten to damage or destroy structures and surfaces. There’s a reason marine coatings have become nearly ubiquitous across our favorite outdoor aquatic environments!

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Ready to sail the seven seas? Or want to enjoy a weekend at the lake without spending hours pulling barnacles and scraping algae off the hull of your boat? ArmorThane can help! We’ll get your marine equipment protected with our advanced polyurea and polyurethane marine coatings to provide the ultimate combination of chemical and mechanical resistance. In just a matter of hours we can have a new coating system applied to your boat, dock, buoy, pool deck, greenhouse, or anywhere else you need to protect against the elements. And if you’re looking to set sail for something new, we also offer comprehensive start-up packages with everything you need to become a certified professional applicator. With no profit-stealing franchise fees, licensing costs, or other predatory expenses, we’ll provide all the training, materials, equipment, and support to go from a coatings first officer to a coatings captain. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your next coatings project, or help get you started on your next business adventure!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TYLER GLECKLER

I am a chemist with a specialization in nanotechnology and applied materials chemistry. My work has focused on the characterization of optoelectronic materials, namely including semiconductor nanocrystals.

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