Why is polyurea better than epoxy?

Polyurea is a more advanced technology than epoxy and has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its superior performance. Polyurea is less toxic than epoxy, which makes it an appealing choice for environments where humans inhabit space, such as industrial facilities, healthcare settings, food processing and packaging plants.

How long do polyurea coatings last?

In industrial settings where excessive abrasion may occur but no chemical wear is expected (e.g., warehouse floors), a well-applied and properly maintained polyurea coating can last around 20 – 25 years, depending on foot traffic and other environmental conditions. It’s important to note that proper maintenance is key in ensuring the longevity of any protective coating; regular inspections should be made for signs of damage or deterioration, while proper cleaning techniques should be followed during routine maintenance activities for optimum results.

Under certain conditions, yes, polyurea can potentially crack. This is because polyurea is a thermoplastic material like many other protective coatings and liners. It can become brittle and eventually crack when exposed to a sudden or excessive temperature change of more than 40°F (22°C).

PRIMARY
CONTAINMENT

PRIMARY CONTAINMENT

High-Performance Polyurea Coatings for Protecting Primary Containment

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PROTECTING YOUR FIRST
LINE OF DEFENSE

It may sound obvious, if not cliche, but primary containment is the first line of defense when storing hazardous materials. These are the containers, such as tanks, bottles, or drums, that are in direct contact with dangerous substances, putting them at significant risk of damage and degradation. Hazardous materials require special solutions for a reason; they’re often highly flammable, corrosive, or reactive, and will readily destroy many common container materials. And even with the right container materials, primary containment systems remain vulnerable to the effects of weathering and abrasion, which necessitate equally robust secondary containment strategies to ensure safety even when primary containment fails. To strengthen primary containment, protective coatings like polyurea can be used to create leakproof, chemically resistant, and highly durable barriers that insulate container materials from their environment, leaving them unaffected by mechanical stress and chemical corrosion.

WHY CHOOSE
POLYUREA FOR PRIMARY
CONTAINMENT?

WHY CHOOSE POLYUREA
FOR PRIMARY CONTAINMENT?

Effective primary containment is paramount for the safe storage of hazardous materials. In a perfect world, hazardous substances should only ever be in direct contact with primary containers, which are made of specialized materials chosen for their compatibility with different hazardous chemicals. However, while container material selection is first and foremost, a second key step in maintaining safe and effective primary containment is through additional protection using coating technologies like polyurea. Polyurea is highly durable, with all the strength and hardness expected of industrial coatings. What makes polyurea unique, is that this strength and durability is paired with high flexibility, ease of application, rapid curing times, and better safety and sustainability characteristics. Polyurea is compatible with almost any substrate, and resists many of the most common hazardous materials like sulfuric acid or toluene. It also forms a watertight seal, serving as a “container to your container,” or as we like to call it – the halfway hero! Made of 100% solids and applied with high-pressure spray equipment, almost any surface can be coated in a uniform layer of polyurea to see any primary containment strategy reach new levels of safety and performance.

ARMORTHANE'S POLYUREA
PRIMARY CONTAINMENT COATINGS

ArmorThane offers an ever-growing suite of polyurea products and services, including several specialty solutions perfect for primary containment. While they each vary in form and function, they all provide exceptional protection against corrosion, contamination, and leakage.

ArmorLiner

ArmorLiner represents the best in polyurea coatings; it sets in seconds, and features excellent resistance to forceful impacts, harsh abrasion, and corrosive chemicals.

HighLine 510H

HighLine 510H is a high-quality pure polyurea formulation, with exceptional corrosion resistance and skid reduction. It’s the harder and more abrasion resistant sequel to our already acclaimed HighLine 510, while also being less sensitive to moisture for unavoidably wet applications.

ArmorFoam

ArmorFoam is made from polyurea’s sister material, polyurethane, which possesses many of the same physical properties and practical benefits, with a few added features. Polyurethane expanding foams create an insulating underlayment for maintaining containment temperatures, and can be combined with polyurea to form a tough outer shell that creates the ultimate protective shield.

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FAQ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is Polyurea Used For Primary Or Secondary Containment?

Polyurea is used in both primary and secondary containment strategies. In either case, polyurea serves the same essential function; to protect containment surfaces from internal or external damage and degradation. This includes protection from the hazardous materials themselves, UV radiation, fluctuating temperatures, high-moisture environments, and harsh or frequent abrasion and forceful impacts.

How Expensive Are Primary Containment Coatings?

Opting for high-quality and long-lasting primary containment coatings can mean having to put forth a hefty initial investment. However, their exceptional performance that can last up to several decades can mean saving huge on maintenance and repair costs. And compared to the costs of serious containment failure, polyurea coatings are a steal!

Why Is Polyurea Used For Primary Containment?

Polyurea is used for primary containment because it offers a unique combination of durability, flexibility, and versatility. It’s strong enough to resist bangs and bumps from industrial equipment, chemically resistant enough to withstand prolonged exposure to countless hazardous materials, and flexible enough to be applied on almost any surface.

FIND AN APPLICATOR
OR START YOUR OWN COATINGS BUSINESS

If you’re ready to upgrade your primary containment strategy with one of the most powerful technologies in the coatings industry, consider partnering with ArmorThane! We’ll help you tackle your next containment project with ease, whether you’re looking to protect new equipment, repair aging infrastructure, or want the best of both worlds. As full-service operators, we can be your one-stop shop for everything polyurea, providing one convenient place with everything you’ll need. Discover why ArmorThane has been a leader in the coatings industry for over 35 years, and how we can be your partner in the coatings industry. Contact us today, and we look forward to welcoming you to the ArmorThane family!

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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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