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POLYURETHANE COATING
WHAT IS POLYURETHANE?
• Polyurethane (PUR and PU) is a polymer composed of organic units joined
by urethane links.
• While most polyurethanes are thermosetting polymers that do not melt when
heated, thermoplastic polyurethanes are also available.
• Polyurethanes are made by the exothermic reactions between alcohols with
two or more reactive hydroxyl(-OH) groups per molecule (diols, triols,
polyols) and isocyanates that have more than one reactive isocyanate
group (-NCO) per molecule (diisocyanates, polyisocyanates).
Urethane Linkage
CHEMISTRY
PU are carbonic acid derivatives.
PU are formed by addition polymerization reaction of diisocyanates with di or
polyfunctional hydroxy compounds, or other compounds having a plurality of
active hydrogen atom
For example a diisocyanate reacts with a diol:
Generalized urethane reaction
CURING
• The curing of two-component polyurethane coating systems can be carried
out at room temperature.
• The drying times can vary considerably depending on the types of polyols
and polyisocyanates used.
• Elevated temperatures (such as after giving a flash-off time of 10 minutes,
PU paint can be baked at 80°C) are often used for forced drying in production
line coatings to speed up curing time.
PROPERTIES
The properties of PUs greatly depend on the structure of the backbone.
They can be tailored to have
• High strength
• Flexibility
• Toughness
• Low thermal conductivity
Most urethanes also have good resistance to oil, (aromatic) hydrocarbons,
oxygen, and ozone.
Two major drawbacks of PURs are their
• Susceptibility to microbial attack
• Tendency of aromatic urethanes to discolor (yellow) when exposed to UV
light.
MODIFICATIONS
• By “undercrosslinking” which means using an NCO to OH ratio less than 1.0 /
1.0, the polyurethane film generally becomes softer and perhaps more
flexible, less weather resistant, and less resistant to solvent and chemicals
• By “overcrosslinking” using an NCO to OH ratio greater than 1.0 / 1.0, the
resultant films tend to be harder and more chemical resistant.
• Another possibility for changing the properties of a coating is to use a blend
of polyols or polyisocyanates.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE IN AUTOMOTIVE
INDUSTRY
• Wear a complete paint suit to
keep paint and other toxic
products out of your personal
system and clothing.
• Wear a respirator with two air
filters, and some kind of head
covering and goggles.
• Keep your area clean, you’ll
create less work-by keeping dust
and dirt out of the painted
surfaces.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE IN AUTOMOTIVE
INDUSTRY
• Each panel should be primered and
block-sanded with required grit(sand)
paper prior to painting.
• The component should be properly
placed so that it stays stable.
• Make sure the body is dirt and dust free.
• After pouring your paint into the spray
can, make sure you stir it thoroughly and
often.
• Filter the paint as it enters the paint gun
reservoir.
• Note that this is a HVLP gun. Paint filters
are fairly standard, but don’t forget to grab
them when you pick up your paint.
• Wear the protective gloves, which can be
changed often.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE IN AUTOMOTIVE
INDUSTRY
• Spray gun nozzles are adjustable (the inner
fittings are changed) depending on the paint
being used.
• Check the parameters (such as pressure, gun
span and gun volume) of the HVLP spray gun
to make sure they are as per required
standard
• The gun should never be too close to the
body and can be tested beforehand to make
sure the pattern is appropriate.
• If the gun spits at any time, stop and clean out
the nozzle with the proper solvent and start
again.
• Avoid contact between the air hose or spray
gun and the wet painted panel or vehicle-or
you will have to repair it by letting it dry and
sanding out the flaw.
QUALITY CONTROL
Some of characteristics that are tested include the
• pH value
• Specific gravity
• Viscosity
• Thickness
• Appearance
• Color
• Odor
• Dry time
• Film thickness
• Hardness
• Gloss
Polyurethane fibers are tested for things such as elasticity, resilience, and absorbency. Polyurethane
foams are checked to ensure they have the proper density, resistance, and flexibility.
USES
• Building & construction
• Transportation
• Furniture & bedding
• Appliances
• Packaging
• Textiles, fibers & apparel
• Machinery & foundry
• Electronics
• Footwear
FINISHED GOOD PROPERTIES