SAFETY COATINGS

Polyurea and Polyurethane Protective Coatings for Safer Surfaces

SAFETY FIRST!

The term “safety coatings” may seem a bit redundant; they’re called protective coatings for a reason, right? Aren’t all protective coatings safety coatings? Well, no, not exactly.

Safety coatings are one class of protective coatings used explicitly for health and safety applications. So instead of something like radar absorbance, where protective coatings are employed for a non-safety related function, safety coatings are used to make surfaces safer in myriad different ways depending on the application. In doing so, safety coatings fulfill their basic purpose of protecting against various different types of accidents. From falls and spills to explosions and structural collapse, safety coatings are a powerful technology for combined prevention and preparation. Supported by advanced formulations like ArmorThane’s polyurea and polyurethane products, you can make your home or business safer, one layer at a time.

TOP 8 APPLICATIONS OF SAFETY COATINGS

There’s no doubt that “safety coatings” is a rather broad term; there’re many different ways to make something safer, so how exactly can safety coatings be used to this end? While there are countless different uses of safety coatings, their core functionality is captured by eight key applications:

ANTI-SLIP AND ANTI-SKID

Slippery surfaces are nothing short of an accident waiting to happen. Both indoor and outdoor floors can get wet or greasy, which makes it all but impossible to avoid losing traction to take quite the tumble. Safety coatings can be formulated with textured finishes that make surfaces easier to walk on, drive over, or hold onto, reducing the risk of dangerous slips, falls, or crashes.  

COLOR CODING

The color of industrial equipment is just as much about function as it is about aesthetics. Pipes, tanks, signs, and other common structures and tools are color coded to distinguish themselves from one another, and to communicate important information. Such color coatings are often susceptible to UV degradation or other sources of discoloration, so it’s important to choose a UV-resistant technology like ArmorThane’s aliphatic polyurea or combined aromatic-aliphatic hybrid formulations.  

BLAST BARRIERS

The threat of explosions isn’t unique to military applications, and many industrial facilities face similar risks from sudden blasts, such as chemical manufacturers and oil refineries. Environments where explosive materials are stored, transferred, or processed require extra protection to reinforce structures against forceful projectiles and shock waves. Load-bearing walls, partition walls, or dedicated safety infrastructure can be coated in high-performance safety coatings like ArmorThane’s to absorb the energy from a blast and keep structures safe.

Environmental Protection

Principally, safety coatings are always used to protect people and the environment in one way or another, but sometimes safety coatings are specifically designed for environmental protection. Events like chemical leaks, oil spills, or uncontrolled waste disposal threaten to wreak havoc on local environments, and safety coatings can be used to contain hazardous substances and avoid their proliferation. ArmorThane’s high-performance polyurea coatings make for powerful primary and secondary containment, widely used by our customers worldwide.

Structural Safety

Even robust construction materials like steel, hardwood, and concrete, for all their strength and durability, are nonetheless susceptible to damage and degradation. With time, if left unnoticed or unaddressed, structures risk catastrophic failure and collapse that can hurt or kill inhabitants and passersby and create enormous repair and replacement costs. Safety coatings can be used to reinforce structures and reduce their rate of wear, thereby lasting longer, and being less likely to result in a serious accident.  

POTABLE WATER
AND FOOD SURFACES

For potable water and food surfaces, safety takes on a different meaning; these resources must be protected from even minor contaminants that can threaten the health and safety of any eventual consumers. Safety coatings like ArmorThane’s AquaSafe is an advanced polyurea formulation specially designed for exactly this purpose, and exists as one of the highest performing technologies of its kind available on the market.

FIRE PREVENTION

The risk of fire is always present in all private, commercial, and industrial settings, and can be absolutely devastating to people and the built environment. For fires to burn hot and long, it requires two simple ingredients: fuel, like wood or flammable chemicals, and oxygen. Safety coatings can be used to insulate surfaces, limiting a fire’s access to underlying structural materials that may serve as a seemingly endless fuel supply. Moreover, if fires manage to catch on other surfaces, coated surfaces will fare far better than anything left unprotected.  

Healthier Environments

It doesn’t matter if you’re in a hospital, manufacturing floor, clean room, or anything in between, every environment can benefit from being cleaner and more hygienic. Counterintuitively, facilities that perform regular washing may be more susceptible to biological hazards like bacteria and mold, as water can seep into floors or penetrate drywall to fester and harbor potentially dangerous organisms. Safety coatings can prevent water infiltration or accumulation, thwarting such hazardous biologicals.

ARMORTHANE’S
HIGH-PERFORMANCE
SAFETY COATINGS

ARMORTHANE’S HIGH-PERFORMANCE
SAFETY COATINGS

Any safety coating is better than no safety coatings, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t better or worse technologies for maximum protection. At ArmorThane, we take the phrase “safety first,” very seriously, and develop only the highest-quality safety coatings that excel at their role as a vital protective technology. Our polyurea and polyurethane safety coatings are highly durable and resistant to myriad physical and chemical risk factors, including harsh abrasion, forceful impacts, chemical corrosion, and UV degradation. These all-purpose characteristics notably don’t come at the cost of an unsafe or unsustainable chemical profile; our protective coatings are safe and non-toxic, as they’re made of 100% solids, and use no solvents or volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). Often a favorite feature for both customers and applicators alike, our formulations also cure in as little as minutes, reducing job complexity and seeing a quicker return to service. ArmorThane’s coatings are for those who take safety as seriously as we do, and offer only the best in all-purpose protection.

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FAQ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Are Safety Coatings?

Safety coatings are a type of coating technology applied to protect people and the environment. They’re made of versatile materials like polyurea and polyurethane, and can be used to create non-slip textures, highly visible and distinguishing colors, or even reliable blast protection. Regardless of their specific use, safety coatings are made of robust materials like polyurea and polyurethane, which can withstand unique, demanding, and dynamic operating environments.

What Are Safety Coatings Made Of?

Safety coatings are made of many of the same materials used outside the scope of safety, including high-performance technologies like polyurea and polyurethane. To fulfill their role as a protective barrier, safety coatings require combined strength, flexibility, and versatility, and should be safe and sustainable enough as to not introduce their own set of hazards.

What Is The Best Safety Coating?

With safety coatings encompassing numerous different applications, the best choice depends on the unique demands and restrictions specific to every project. For an all-purpose technology suitable for making safer surfaces in different environments and in different manners, we recommend polyurea and polyurethane formulations, which possess the ultimate fusion of performance, cost, and convenience.

LIVE AND WORK MORE SAFELY WITH ARMORTHANE

If you’re ready to protect your home or business from the many threats presented by our increasingly crazy world, look no farther than ArmorThane. Our comprehensive suite of polyurea and polyurethane products and services include a powerful solution for almost any project, backed by over 35 years leading the paints and coatings industry. Contact us today to learn more about ArmorThane’s advanced safety coatings, and discover how we can be your partner in the coatings business!

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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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