What is Polyurea?

Polyurea is an organic polymer that is the reaction of isocyanate with an amine terminated polyether resin, forming a plastic-like or rubber-like compound that may be used in many of the same ways as older technologies - polyurethane, epoxy, vinyl ester, neoprene; to name a few.

Can anyone apply Polyurea?

Polyurea requires special training and equipment for field application, whether used as joint filler or as a field applied coating. Resiline is a specialized product that involves comprehensive training and specific equipment.

Where can Polyurea be used?

As a general rule, Resiline polyurea can be employed to contain any substance that may be directly discharged into normal sanitary sewer systems. It may be easier to give examples of environments where polyurea should not be used. As a general recommendation for constant exposure to direct chemical attack Resiline polyurea products may not be installed for attack by:

• Halogenated Solvents: 1. Carbon tetrachloride 2. Chloroform 3. Methylene chloride 4. Tetrachloroethane 5. Trichlorethene 6. Trichloroethane

• Non-Halogenated Solvents And Ketones: 1. Acetone 2. Acetonitrile 3. Acetophenone 4. Benzene 5. Butanol 6. Camphor oil 7. Cyclohexanone 8. Diethyl ether 9. Diisobutyl ketone 10. Ethyl acetate 11. Hexane 12. Methyl ethyl ketone 13. Methyl isobutyl ketone 14. Pentane 15. Phenol 16. Toluene 17. Xylene

• Acidic compounds with a total composite pH range equal to or below 4

• Basic compounds with a total composite pH range equal to or above 11 Note: Non-aqueous (anhydrous and anhydride compounds in granular, crystalline, or powder form) protected by an air drying system may be contained by polyurea.

• Amine Attacking And Amine Containing Compounds Strong, inorganic acids, organic acid halides, aldehydes, isocyanates, organic anhydrides. 1. Aminoethylethanolamine 2. Aniline 3. Ethylamine 4. Methylamine 5. Pyridine 6. Toluenediamine

What temperatures will Polyurea withstand?

Resiline polyurea begin to develop their physical properties within minutes of application. Among several very desirable properties are their quick gel time and their glass transition temperatures that average -40 degrees F and +480 degrees F. Heat of deflection under no load is +250 degrees F. Safe upper limit of working temperature is +350 degrees F, under no load.

Polyurea will exhibit thermal shock debonding when subject to repeated periodic blasts of live steam. While polyurea has high glass transition and heat of deflection temperatures, it will burn when exposed to direct flame. It will self extinguish when flame is removed.

Is Polyurea Hard or Soft?

Polyurea may be either hard or soft depending on the particular formulation and the intended use. Durometer ratings may range from Shore A 30 to Shore D 80.

How well does Polyurea adhere to steel?

Resiline polyurea may be applied to properly prepared A-36 metal substrates. The metal should be blasted to Near White or White, and have a blast profile of 5 mils. Adhesion values will exceed 1000 psi without using primer.

What factors should be considered when adhering to concrete?

There is no hard and fast number that is useful to the designer. Generally, an adhesion value is a compromise between the type and condition of concrete substrate, the stresses placed upon the membrane prior to project completion, and the requirements of the membrane to withstand in-place use stresses. Where possible, concrete should have all surface paste removed and be free of laitance of any kind. A texture similar to 80-grit sandpaper as a minimum is desirable.

Since concrete has low tensile properties, especially at the surface faces of large plan areas, one rule of thumb is to expect adhesion to range around ten percent (10%) of ultimate compressive strength of the concrete. The best that can be expected is in the range of 350 psi to 450 psi for 4,000 psi concrete properly cured and of sufficient age to acquire its maximum physical properties.

Learn more about Resiline at their website.

Polyurea is an organic polymer that is the reaction of isocyanate with an amine terminated polyether resin, forming a plastic-like or rubber-like compound that may be used in many of the same ways as older technologies – polyurethane, epoxy, vinyl ester, neoprene; to name a few.

What is Polyurea? – As defined by the PDA

"A polyurea coating/elastomer is that derived from the reaction product of an isocyanate component and a resin blend component. The isocyanate can be aromatic or aliphatic in nature. It can be monomer, polymer, or any variant reaction of isocyanates, quasi-prepolymer or a prepolymore. The prepolymer, or quasi-prepolymer, can be made of an amine-terminated polymer resin, or a hydroxyl-terminated polymer resin."

Polyurea coatings combine extreme application properties such as rapid cure, even at temperatures well below 0°C, and insensitivity to humidity, with exceptional physical properties such as high bond strength, hardness, continued flexibility, tear and tensile strength, abrasion, chemical and water resistance. The systems are 100 per cent solids, making them compliant with the strictest VOC regulations. Due to its specific curing profile and exceptional film properties, polyurea spray coating technology has been introduced into many markets including civil infrastructure, construction, mining, transportation, agriculture, food processing and manufacturing.

Polyurea’s broad window of application conditions along with its highly desirable characteristics makes it an exceptional choice in applications such as:

• Concrete repair and rehabilitation
• Concrete and steel corrosion, chemical and abrasion protection
• Potable water pipe rehabilitation
• Concrete and steel potable water reservoir rehabilitation
• Concrete, steel and wood waterproofing membranes
• Manhole repair and rehabilitation
• Green and standard flat roof coatings
• Primary/Secondary containment
• Concrete and earthen ponds and pools
• Bridge deck coatings
• Rapid set joint fillers and sealants
• Protection over insulation on pipes and tanks
• Tank coatings and linings
• Truck bed liners
• Bulk transport trailer liners

Polyurea is a remarkable technology with a range of uses limited only by your imagination. As with any coating system, proper surface preparation, correct application equipment and the use of compatible primers is required. Read on for further information on where and how polyurea’s are being used successfully around the globe.

Potable Water Reservoirs and Distribution Systems

See: Resiline 320 & Restoration Process

Communities around the world depend on the safe and reliable supply of drinking water. An aging infrastructure, however, poses significant challenges to water providers. As both concrete and steel reservoirs age, their ability to withstand deterioration and corrosion is compromised often resulting in structural weakness, leaks and higher turbidity levels.

As water distribution pipes age, corrosion and tuberculation build-up can affect water quality, restrict flow, and cause pipe failure. Polyurea’s with ASTM NSF 61.5 approval provide long term solutions to the challenge of economically and effectively correcting these problems and extending the asset life.

Wastewater Treatment Linings

See: AquaVers® 20 Potable Water Primer & AquaVers® 405 Potable Water Spray Polyurea

Wastewater treatment facilities, manholes, sewers and lift stations endure some of the most severe and corrosive environments in the water industry. These extreme service environments operate in situations of constant groundwater infiltration, chemical exposure and heavy abrasion that result in deteriorated concrete and corroded steel in tanks, pipelines, containment pits and other infrastructure assets. Leaks, cracking and damage to existing coating systems also top the list of challenges in facility maintenance and new construction.

Polyurea coatings & liners are the state-of-the-art technology for the demanding environments and chemical exposure that occur in wastewater utilities. These high performance thick film industrial coatings and linings provide durable, waterproof, seamless, impermeable, and abrasion-resistant barriers against a variety of liquids and chemicals.

With proper surface preparation and primers, polyurea can be applied fast to return the infrastructure to service faster than most competitive systems. Polyurea’s ability to form a monolithic, durable liner protects and significantly extends the infrastructure’s service life.

Tank Coatings & Linings

See: VersaFlex FSS 45DC Aromatic Spray Polyurea

Polyurea coatings protect steel tanks from corrosion, chemicals, and other natural weather and jobsite elements. With proper surface preparation, substrate condition, formulation choice, primers, and installation procedures, polyurea goes on fast and stays on long. Polyurea’s are great for extending the life of older tanks and can offer limited structural characteristics as well.

These systems can be applied during primary construction or in a retrofit environment. With their fast cure times they are ideal for retrofit since down time is significantly minimized compared to some competing materials.

Polyurea linings are resistant to many chemicals and industrial liquids. With their fast application advantages and ability to adhere to properly prepared substrates, polyureas are ideal for new storage tank primary lining and rehabilitation projects.

Landscape and Water Containment

Landscape designers and contractors have found similar benefits with polyurea. Polyurea is often used to contain water for ponds and pool decorations to form a primary containment liner. Use of geotextile material is common when applying polyurea over dirt. Proper surface condition is vital when applying over concrete and most other substrates.

Fuel Storage and Containment

Polyurea is resistant to many fuels and chemicals. It is commonly used to line fuel storage tanks and to provide secondary containment in fuel pits, transfer stations and pipelines. Polyurea is not resistant to all chemicals and necessary compatibility tests and surface preparation are always required.

Joint Fill / Caulk

Polyurea is being successfully used as a multi-purpose joint fill, caulking and sealant material. It can provide a flexible, durable, weather-tight and traffic resistant seal for all types of building joints, such as expansion joints and control joints in masonry floors, perimeter joints, panels and doors, water reservoirs, etc. It has excellent crack-bridging properties with high elongation and tensile strength. The fast cure time and insensitivity to moisture allows for a quicker installation with a wider application window. Proper surface preparation and substrate condition is always necessary.

Highway / Railway Bridge Deck Coatings

Rail and highway bridge decks suffer deterioration from corrosive effects of both natural and man-made agents. The tremendous pounding bridges sustain along with the freeze/thaw cycle, repeated day after day, year after rear, also rapidly deteriorate the structures. A spray applied polyurea elastomeric membrane will provide a highly durable waterproof protective coating that is impervious to deicing chemicals, water, ballast, stray current and other factors that contribute to accelerated deterioration and wear of elevated structures.