SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE COATING
How To Choose Between Two High-Performance Protective Coatings
POLYUREA
VS POLYURETHANE
The coatings industry is vast, with an ever growing portfolio of protective linings and coatings. But within this sea of solutions, several coatings technologies stand out, and see extensive use across diverse industries and applications. Chief among them are polyurea and polyurethane, two chemically similar materials with several key distinctions that often make choosing between them an arduous task. While they can often be used for the same coatings projects, their differences make them uniquely equipped to tackle some projects better than others. We’ll walk you through their advantages and disadvantages, and help unpack why each technology is preferred for specific applications.
WHAT's THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLYUREA VS OTHER COATINGS?
In many respects, polyurea and polyurethane are very similar materials – if this wasn’t already made clear by their names! Both cure into strong yet flexible coatings, and are produced with simple two-component systems. Polyurethane is the older of the two technologies, and is produced through a reaction of a polyol with an isocyanate. The resulting material is waterproof and chemically resistant, and can be applied as a spray foam that’s perfect for building insulation. Polyurea is a newer technology that was developed out of a need for a material that was like polyurethane, but with improved moisture sensitivity. It’s formed through the reaction of a diamine with a diisocyanate, reacting faster than polyurethane to cure within minutes after mixing. Both materials serve to provide excellent protection against myriad risk factors, and can even be used for the very same applications.
BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS
While they possess similar chemical structures that afford polyurea and polyurethane with overlapping properties and applications, their still unique compositions lead to application specific benefits and drawbacks. And that is the key point; an advantage in one application may be a disadvantage in another. There’s no one-size-fits-all technology, and no single better solution. Both materials provide exceptional protection with unmatched compatibility and versatility, and reduce the damaging effects of forceful impacts, harsh abrasion, high-moisture, and chemical exposure. With that said, let’s compare the two coatings:
Polyurethane is far softer than polyurea, which can be a big advantage for maximizing protection from impact damage. However, this also means that polyurethane isn’t as strong as polyurea, which sees it used in applications that require flexibility over durability. Polyurea is also more chemically resistant, withstanding acute or prolonged exposure to a wider variety of chemical compounds than polyurethane. Moreover, polyurea is also better equipped to protect against extreme temperatures, and cures far faster than polyurethane. In fact, polyurea is perhaps best known for its rapid curing times, whereas polyurethane typically takes far longer to cure and dry – up to several days or more. However, this extended installation and slower curing also makes polyurethane installations more forgiving. With polyurea, installers have only minutes from application to identify and rectify any errors, whereas polyurethane extends the window of opportunity for intervention. Overall, polyurea offers superior protection in challenging environments due to its rapid curing times, high-temperature resistance, and improved sensitivity to moisture. Polyurethane is ideal for coatings projects that prioritize flexibility and impact resistance, or the unique properties of polyurethane spray foams.
SO, HOW TO CHOOSE?
Now equipped with the knowledge of the differences between polyurea and polyurethane, the question remains: how to select the appropriate coating? Well, while we always advise to carefully consider the unique requirements of each coatings project to determine the appropriate coating for your needs, there are a few key takeaway and rules of thumb that we can suggest:
If your coatings project needs flexibility first, and strength second – choose polyurethane. For projects in demanding environments like extreme temperatures, harsh UV radiation, or frequent abrasions, polyurea is likely the better option. And remembers, polyurea and polyurethane can be used together to create hybrid coating systems that bring the best of both worlds. Ultimately, it’s always best to consult with a coatings expert like ArmorThane to help you determine the safest, highest performing, and most cost-effective solution for your coatings projects.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There’s no one-size-fits-all coatings technology. Polyurea and polyurethane possess unique advantages and drawbacks that make them more or less equipped for specific applications. Polyurea is generally better for challenging environments that prioritize strength and chemical resistance, whereas polyurethane is most often preferred for projects prioritizing flexibility and impact resistance.
In general, polyurea is more expensive than polyurethane. However, the cost-effectiveness of each technology cannot be determined by their installation costs alone. While polyurea can be more expensive in the short term, its improved performance in demanding environments can lead to huge cost savings in the long run.
Whether or not polyurea or polyurethane will last longer depends on the type and quality of formulation, the location of the coating system, the nature of its application, the local environment, normal operating conditions, and myriad other factors. With proper care and maintenance, both polyurea and polyurethane can last for up to several decades.
TO SELECT THE APPROPRIATE COATING
CHOOSE ARMORTHANE
With over 35 years experience leading the coatings industry, we’ve built our business to be your one-stop shop for everything polyurea and polyurethane. ArmorThane formulates, manufacturers, applies, and distributes our growing portfolio of polyurea and polyurethane products and services, bringing everything you need to one convenient place. Whether you need help selecting the right coating, or are seeking expert advice to take your next coatings project from start to finish, we’ve got you covered. We’ve yet to find a problem we couldn’t solve, and our technical support and customer service teams are ready to prove that to you 24/7. To discover more about ArmorThane and our suite of polyurea and polyurethane products and services, contact us today!
