Skip to content 
Polyurea Vs Powder Coat: Which is better?
IMPROVE WEAR RESISTANCE
AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE MATERIAL
For most materials, such as steel and iron, an enhanced barrier is necessary for protection against corrosion to improve wear resistance and extend the life span of the material. This protective coating is vital in industries using pricey equipment and machinery, such as construction, manufacturing, shipping, agriculture, and oil and gas.
You can also modify how your bike, car, or truck looks by applying a layer of paint or another protective coating. While paint can give some protection, its applications are remarkably limited.
INFERIOR ALTERNATIVE PROTECTIVE COATINGS
Other coating alternatives, such as ArmorThane polyurea coatings, are longer lasting and more stable than paint.
An inferior alternative to paint is powder coating, which produces a more durable barrier than paint but is less stable than ArmorThane polyurea. Powder coating has some limitations in terms of application.
Below, we have listed some information on powder coating and common protective coatings to understand the different coating techniques comprehensively.
POWDER COATING OPTIONS
Unlike paint, powder coating uses dry, free-flowing powder – made of thermoplastic or another thermoset polymer – delivered electrostatically. This electric charge ensures the powder attaches to the surface.
The metal is then cured (or baked) under heat or ultraviolet light, turning the powder into a stable, solid protective coat.
Aside from its durability, powder coating emits negligible amounts of volatile organic compounds or VOCs, unlike paints. It also cures much faster than paint due to the baking process.
Powder coating is, however, rather pricey, and establishments that provide powder coating services have size limitations. There are also set costs for small and larger parts to be powder coated.
Versatility: Can be utilized on virtually all metals.
Durability: Depending on the pre-treatment material and powder type, powder coating can keep its finish for 15 to 20 years.
Value for Money: Commonly expensive to apply initially and repair when it begins to chip.
Protective Coatings VS Powder Coatings
Protective coatings, particularly those made with polyurea, offer a myriad of advantages over powder coating. Firstly, polyurea protective coatings provide exceptional durability and resistance to abrasion, making them highly suitable for harsh environmental conditions and heavy-duty applications. The fast-curing nature of polyurea coatings ensures minimal downtime during the coating process, reducing production time and enhancing efficiency. Additionally, polyurea coatings display excellent flexibility, allowing them to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations without cracking or peeling. Furthermore, polyurea coatings offer superior chemical resistance, protecting the substrate from corrosive agents and extending its lifespan. Lastly, polyurea protective coatings exhibit remarkable adherence to various surfaces, creating a seamless, impermeable barrier that effectively guards against moisture, UV radiation, and other potentially damaging factors.
epoxy coatings
An epoxy coating incorporates an epoxy base and finishes coat or curing agent. Different components of epoxy can be adjusted to deliver certain benefits.
For example, epoxy polyamide coatings deliver superior moisture resistance, phenolic ones provide excellent chemical resistance, and epoxy mastic coatings provide exceptional film thickness.
The versatility of epoxy means you’ll see them across various industrial settings, such as nuclear power plants, oil and gas, construction, agriculture, and wastewater treatment facilities. It functions well underwater and is abrasion, heat, and chemical-resistant. It is also commonly affordable.
However, UV exposure leads to the degeneration or chalking of epoxy.
Epoxy is normally used when applying a protective coating to industrial and workshop floors, although there are more enduring alternate to epoxy coatings.
Versatility: Epoxy can be utilised on metal surfaces, PVC, glass, ceramic tiles, fiberglass, wood, concrete, etc.
Durability: Epoxy provides moderate durability; however the more advanced ArmorThane polyurea coatings provide more advanced protection.
Value for Money: Epoxy is typically more superior to powder coating in terms of price and durability.
ARMORTHANE POLYUREA PROTECTIVE COATINGS
ArmorThane protective coatings are spray-on protective coatings made from polyurea. They are highly durable and resistant to impact, heat, chemicals, and corrosion.
The protective coating can be applied to virtually anything, including farm equipment, commercial construction equipment, mining, industrial machinery, trailers, boats, and even bridges.
ArmorThane protective coatings come with custom color pigmentation and have exceptional adhesion to surfaces like metal, concrete, fiberglass, plastic, and wood. Most ArmorThane coatings are also rated for fire safety and approved for use in potable water applications.
Versatility: Since ArmorThane adheres to virtually any substrate, it has numerous applications.
Durability: ArmorThane protective coatings eternally bond to most materials at a molecular level, so the consequent composite has remarkably high tensile strength. ArmorThane coatings are more durable than powder coating as well as other protective coating choices.
Value for Money: The longevity and durability of ArmorThane protective coatings insure the need for minimal ongoing costs – making the lifetime price of the product very appealing.
WANT TO
BECOME AN APPLICATOR
Without a profit stealing franchise model that restricts business potential, we assist you in developing a financial plan and formulating product costs that position you for success once you join the ArmorThane applicator network. Starting your own coatings business has never been so easy. Fill out the form below to become an applicator today!
Benefits Of ArmorThane Protective Coatings
ArmorThane protective coatings give an impenetrable layer of polyurea designed to armor your valuable equipment and vehicles from the elements, including humidity, saltwater, and extreme temperatures. ArmorThane coatings are much more durable and resistant to extreme environments than powder coating. One of the unique properties of polyurea is that it can be elongated up to twice its original size without cracking or tearing. Impact testing shows that polyurea is 15x more durable than a powder coat. With superior properties, a polyurea application will last for decades without needing repair.
It is heat-, corrosion-, and chemical-resistant, has no VOCs, and is highly durable, with tensile strengths of up to 6,600 psi. It has extremely fast cure times and is also UV- and color-stable.
ArmorThane is able to weather the harshest environmental conditions, which is why it is so widely used in industrial, agricultural, commercial, municipal, and recreational settings.
Not only do ArmorThane protective coatings perform all other protective coatings on the market, but it is also more durable than powder coating. It can be utilized for a broader range of applications.
If you require a durable, high-performance protective coating for your materials, vehicles, or equipment, get in touch with one of our many applicators.
Benefits of Polyurea OVER POWDER COATING
Polyurea coating offers several distinct advantages over traditional powder coating. Firstly, polyurea is extremely durable and resistant to abrasion, impact, and chemicals. This makes it perfect for applications in industries such as automotive or manufacturing, where the coated surfaces often experience heavy wear and tear. Additionally, polyurea offers excellent flexibility and elongation properties, allowing it to expand and contract with temperature changes without cracking or peeling. This flexibility also makes polyurea ideal for coating complex shapes or uneven surfaces where powder coating may not adhere properly. Furthermore, polyurea cures quickly, often within seconds or minutes, resulting in reduced downtime and increased productivity. Lastly, polyurea coatings provide exceptional resistance to UV radiation, ensuring that the coated surfaces retain their color and finish for a long time without fading or discoloration. Overall, polyurea offers a more durable, flexible, and efficient solution compared to powder coating in various industrial applications.
Key benefits of polyurea coatings include:
- Quick setting time
- Excellent abrasion and scratch resistance
- Very durable resistance to weather and environmental conditions
- Very beneficial elongation properties
- Can be applied in extreme temperature conditions
- Coating thickness can be finely regulated
- Very effective bonding on correctly prepared surfaces of wood, cement, concrete and metals
- Superior chemical resistance
- Feasibility of low viscosity
- Can be formulated for a very high tensile strength
