Choosing the Correct Industrial Paint Coatings

Industrial paint is all around us, protecting structures from corrosion, wear and tear and deterioration, as well as creating attractive and colourful exteriors to the following applications:

Buildings
Outdoor structures and equipment
Sports and play equipment
Cars, boats and planes and related accessories
Appliances and machinery
Construction and agricultural equipment
Safety and security equipment

If you’re responsible for purchasing the paint required to protect these applications you need to make sure you choose the right type for the structure, vehicle or equipment in question.

Below the specialist industrial paints team at Independent Paint Supplies has come up with the most commonly used types of high-performance coatings used in industrial applications along with their uses and benefits.

Table of Contents

Polyurethane Coatings

Paint manufacturers create polyurethane coatings for use in a wide array of environments, often as a protective final coat over other custom formulated industrial primers. Polyurethanes resist abrasion and can enhance durability to withstand wear and tear and harsh weather.

These coatings maintain colour and can also come in an attractive, high-gloss finish. Some polyurethane coatings have good UV and environmental durability, suitable for outdoor applications as they don’t degrade in in wet conditions or underwater, though they can fade when exposed to UV light.

Epoxy Coatings

These coatings normally consist of an amine curing agent blended with an epoxy polymer, a bit like a strong adhesive bond. Manufacturers can alter the mix ratios (and ingredients) of epoxies to create a wide variety of characteristics to meet the demands of a variety of environments.

Epoxy coatings bond well to many different surfaces as they are weather resistant as well as being able to withstand higher temperatures.

Alkyd Coatings

Alkyd coatings are usually applied to prepared substrates. They resist the effects of many different environments and can be formulated to function effectively in interior, exterior, underwater, and underground settings.

Manufacturers adjust the components used to create custom alkyd coatings to adapt to a variety of conditions. Alkyd coatings may take longer to dry than other coatings, since they must be permeable to oxygen.

Zinc-Rich Coatings

These high performance coatings use zinc dust as a rust and corrosion preventative pigment. Organic zinc coatings are often made with epoxy or polyurethane resin binders, since high performance pigments justify high performance polymers. Zinc coatings are particularly effective when used on steel, and provide dual function corrosion protection; both a galvanic and a polymeric barrier. Zinc-rich coatings are durable and resist abrasion.

Acrylic Coatings

Acrylic coatings have many advantages, including quick-drying and high gloss capability. They make great adhesion-promoting primers. Acrylics often require fewer ingredients and can increase the coated product’s corrosion resistance.

Find the Coating You Need

With so many different types of industrial paint coatings, you may not be sure which is best for your particular application. If this is the case, call the team at IPS Paint Supplies today on the number below or visit https://www.ipspaint.co.uk/industrial/ for more information: