Tag: 100% Solids

Issue 10: Polyurea Hybrid Coatings: Understand the Differences

Sometimes a customer is told that a supplier has a polyurea hybrid and that a hybrid will outperform polyurethane because of the polyurea component of the formula. However, all polyurea hybrid coatings are not created equal.

Most customers take what they are told at face value, without a more in-depth understanding of the issues involved. Customers should ask questions. If the polyurea component is the determining factor that boosts the physical properties, exactly how much of the hybrid product is polyurea coating and how much is polyurethane? One supplier could offer an 80% polyurea coating/20% polyurethane mix to get one level of performance; a second could have a 50%/50% ratio to have a perfectly balanced blend, according to its claims; and a third could use a 99% polyurethane/1% polyurea coating system. While each supplier would be correct in calling their product a Polyurea Hybrid, the customers of each would be purchasing a coating with drastically different performance characteristics.

It’s extremely important to know what you’re buying. Too many coating specifiers are unaware of the subtle differences in these coatings and their properties. Every contractor should either seek out specifiers that understand the key differences between polyurea hybrid coatings or be willing to train the specifiers with whom they work.