No matter what kind of a construction you are building, protecting it against corrosion and making it more durable and lasting is paramount – without finishing touches, your projects will always be incomplete. Moreover, its surfaces will corrode, rot and crack and practically ruin all your hard work. In order to avoid that, you should apply a coat of industrial coating that will put to rest all your protection-related concerns.
It will also add a nice finishing touch to your work and hence have a twofold application in your work – protective and aesthetic. Since the industrial coating’s market is quite developed and versatile, there is a wide plethora of options and you should be careful when choosing. Here is how to find the perfect industrial coating that will suit you.
The Not-So-Basic Basics
Everyone knows what an industrial coating is and what its main use and applications are, but what most people do not know is the real reason why it is so irreplaceable. They use it because someone told them to apply it at the finishing stage of every job involving steel constructions, but are still unsure to why this is so.
Every time you operate with steel, you run a risk of dealing with corrosion and rust and there is very little you can do to prevent it. The size and usage of the construction do not matter much and all steel objects, from small home devices and pipes to big bridges, platforms and shipping containers, tend to corrode due to oxidation and other chemical reactions. Corrosion attacks stainless steel as well and the only way to minimize it is by industrial coatings.
The Variations
Industrial paint is made out of polymers that contain a special combination of chemicals that control steel corrosion and slow down its process. There are many types of these polymers and different combinations can be used and this can be confusing when you are ordering them. Among the most popular polymers are moisture-cure urethane, polyurethane, epoxy and fluoropolymer that all trigger specific chemical reactions in order to neutralize the process of oxidation.
Furthermore, industrial coatings often contain other elements that make them even more adaptable and resourceful for different industries. These are zinc, phosphate and Xylan lubricants that make coatings indispensable for everything from concrete blocks and garage floors to furniture and kitchen fittings.
What to Consider When Purchasing Coatings?
When you are looking for long-lasting industrial coatings, you need to know a couple of details in order to find the most suitable one and complete your job. It is not enough to go to a store and ask for the best solution on the market, but you must be aware of the specifications stated on the can, the exact composition of the paint and what you want to achieve with it. For instance, if you are looking for a protective solution which resembles hammered sheet metal and camouflages imperfect surfaces and hides unsightly dents, scratches and joints, you should go for hammertone decorative coating.
If possible, try to get an expert’s opinion or consult your paint provider. They will know how to apply the coating and provide you details regarding a coating system. In most cases, it includes three parts, i.e. layers of coat – a primer coat, an intermediate coat and a top coat – that are combined into a protective layer separating the steel surface from corrosive elements such as water, air and soil. Ultimately, when looking for perfect industrial coatings, you need to know what type of surface you are applying it to, how big the surface is and what ingredients your paint includes.
The Need for Protection
Surfaces that are not protected by industrial coating quickly start changing color and you can notice corrosion and rust forming sooner than you have expected, which is the main reason why applying industrial coating should never be omitted.
