CONCRETE COATINGS
Polyurea and Polyurethane Concrete Coatings for Waterproofing and Full-Surface Protection
WHAT ARE CONCRETE COATINGS?
Concrete is the most common building material in the world, and in fact, it’s also the most used man-made material on Earth, and the second most abundant resource overall, only after water. It’s hard to overstate the importance of concrete, and this is no recent invention; concrete has existed for all of recorded human history, and was first developed as early as approximately 7000 BC. So whether it’s ancient Roman concrete or today’s modern compositions, concrete has been used throughout the ages for its strength and durability, perfect for constructing everything from homes to power plants. However, for all of its advantages, concrete still has its drawbacks and limitations.
Namely, concrete is a porous material, despite appearing totally solid. This allows concrete to absorb and retain moisture that makes it more susceptible to cracking, chipping, or spalling during freeze-thaw cycles and during ground shift. And water damage aside, concrete structures are also exposed to the full gamut of other common physical and chemical risk factors, including harsh abrasion, forceful impacts, and chemical corrosion. To protect concrete surfaces from water, heat, chemicals, UV radiation, and beyond, concrete coatings can be used to create a waterproof and watertight membrane that shields concrete structures from their environment to maximize both their performance and longevity.
Namely, concrete is a porous material, despite appearing totally solid. This allows concrete to absorb and retain moisture that makes it more susceptible to cracking, chipping, or spalling during freeze-thaw cycles and during ground shift. And water damage aside, concrete structures are also exposed to the full gamut of other common physical and chemical risk factors, including harsh abrasion, forceful impacts, and chemical corrosion. To protect concrete surfaces from water, heat, chemicals, UV radiation, and beyond, concrete coatings can be used to create a waterproof and watertight membrane that shields concrete structures from their environment to maximize both their performance and longevity.
POLYUREA AND POLYURETHANE CONCRETE COATINGS
The paints and coatings industry offers an increasing number of different technologies, each possessing their own benefits and drawbacks. In a sea of possibility, several solutions float to the top, and have proven themselves as high-performing, cost-effective, and long-lasting in almost any coatings project. Chief among them are polyurea and polyurethane, two sister materials with similar but distinct physical properties that together can be used to create robust coatings systems. For concrete coatings, they’re the ultimate choice for full-surface protection, functioning as both a waterproofing layer and a durable protective coating.
Polyurethane was the first of the two materials to be developed, and is generally cheaper and more flexible than its polyurea counterpart. Additionally, polyurea can be applied as a spray foam, which has seen its widespread use as building insulation and soundproofing material, but can serve just as well to protect concrete surfaces from water, chemical exposures, and UV radiation. Polyurea was developed more recently, and stemmed from a demand for a material similar to polyurethane, but with superior moisture resistance and faster curing times. Polyurea is exactly that; it’s easy to apply in wet or humid environments, and cures within minutes after application to reduce operational downtime. If that wasn’t enough, polyurea is also stronger and more resistant than polyurethane, making it prized in countless different applications, from truck bedliners to military blast mitigation.
Polyurethane was the first of the two materials to be developed, and is generally cheaper and more flexible than its polyurea counterpart. Additionally, polyurea can be applied as a spray foam, which has seen its widespread use as building insulation and soundproofing material, but can serve just as well to protect concrete surfaces from water, chemical exposures, and UV radiation. Polyurea was developed more recently, and stemmed from a demand for a material similar to polyurethane, but with superior moisture resistance and faster curing times. Polyurea is exactly that; it’s easy to apply in wet or humid environments, and cures within minutes after application to reduce operational downtime. If that wasn’t enough, polyurea is also stronger and more resistant than polyurethane, making it prized in countless different applications, from truck bedliners to military blast mitigation.
APPLICATIONS OF
CONCRETE COATINGS
APPLICATIONS OF CONCRETE COATINGS
To know if concrete coatings can be used for your desired application, you need only to consider one simple rule: if it’s made of concrete, then it’s perfect for concrete coatings. With the extensive use of concrete worldwide, there’s a never ending list of applications for concrete coatings. Don’t believe us? Take a look at only a small fraction of where concrete coatings find a home:
- Kennels and Animals Habitats
- High Foot Traffic Areas
- Vehicular Traffic Areas
- Athletic Tracks
- Warehouse Floors
- Fountains and Water Features
- Power Plants
- Storage Tanks and Containment Systems
- Food Processing Facilities
- Decorative Retaining Walls
- Petrochemical Plants
- Milling and Mining Industry
- Manufacturing Plants
- Pulp and Paper Industry
- Industrial and Commercial Flooring
- Sanitation, Sewage, and Water Treatment
- Patios and Porches
- Garage Floors and Driveways
- Basements and Foundations
- Showrooms and Retail Outlets
- Healthcare and Veterinary Clinics
Anywhere where physical or chemical stress threatens to weather and degrade concrete structures, polyurea and polyurethane concrete coatings can be used to improve performance and extend lifespans.
ARMORTHANE’S CONCRETE COATINGS
ArmorThane is your one-stop shop for everything polyurea and polyurethane, and we offer countless specialty formulations that are dedicated to protecting concrete surfaces:
ArmorFloorTM
ArmorFloor is a two-component, color-stable formulation of aliphatic polyester polyurethane. It’s engineered for moderate to severe chemical environments in both indoor and outdoor applications, with either spray on or roll on techniques.
ArmorDeckTM
ArmorDeck is a single-component aromatic urethane polyurea that serves as a high-performance elastomeric waterproofing base membrane. It features a high-solids composition, and is solvent-free, low-odor, healthier and more sustainable, liquid-applied, and moisture-cured.
FAQ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Protecting concrete shouldn’t mean not protecting your health, and different types of concrete coatings pose varying levels of health and safety risks. Polyurea and polyurethane are safer and more sustainable than many alternatives technologies, made of 100% solids and with no solvents or volatile organic chemicals (VOCs).
Polyurea is one of the coating industry’s most prolific and high-performance technologies, seeing widespread use in everything from truck bedliners to industrial flooring. This advanced protection can require a healthy upfront investment, but can lead to huge long term savings by reducing the need for repairs and replacements.
Polyurea is far and away one of the best industrial coatings available on the market, including for concrete waterproofing and protection. It’s easy to apply, quick to cure, strong but flexible, highly compatible, and more sustainable than many competing technologies. So whether you want to protect your garage or your warehouse, polyurea provides exceptional protection in almost any environment.
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ArmorThane has been a leader in the coatings industry for over 35 years, where we’ve witnessed, and been a part of, polyurea and polyurethane’s explosive rise to prominence. As full-service operators who formulate, manufacture, distribute, and apply our growing portfolio of polyurea and polyurethane products and services, we offer a comprehensive and convenient one-stop shop for all of your coatings needs. Whether you want to find the right formulation for your next concrete coatings project, or discover more about how ArmorThane can help you start your own coatings business, contact us today! Our 24/7 customer service and technical support teams will be ready to answer any questions, and help you get started with confidence.
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.
