Epoxy paints: selection criteria

A large number of various paints and enamels are presented on the market of finishing materials today. Epoxy compounds are very popular, however, they must be chosen as carefully and accurately as possible. Manufacturers talk about the benefits of their products very confidently, and it is not very easy to understand its qualities.

The paint should form an elegant layer on the surface, in addition, completely protect it from harmful chemical and physical processes and retain its qualities for as long as possible. Developers have been trying to achieve these parameters for a very long time, and in the process of this work, epoxy dyes were created about half a century ago. The parameters of such coatings have been continuously improved and improved for a long time.

Varieties of epoxy mixtures are divided into powder, two-component and presented in aerosol form.

Powder painting is used when you need to paint a large number of structures or parts, such work is performed strictly in special chambers using special equipment.

The paint mixture contains high temperature curing epoxy resins. The layer turns out to be quite strong and stable, it perfectly protects metal and other substances from a wide range of negative influences.

In addition to pigments (small granules), any epoxy paint also includes modifiers (which allow the dye to be evenly distributed) and binders (low molecular weight resins).

Epoxy paint mixtures adhere perfectly to surfaces of any material, even plastic or concrete.

The coating reliably resists water, chemical corrosion and destructive biological factors. The film is mechanically strong, easily transfers loads and even friction, which means that it will last long enough.

Large amount of dry residue allows to be limited to a single layer, this is sufficient for the normal use of parts, blocks and structures. Immunity to hydrocarbons (petroleum products) and solvents is very important for the automotive industry.

When using epoxy paints in houses and apartments, offices, the variety of their tones becomes a valuable property. Even in the bathroom or on the walls of the pool, they can be held securely and provide the necessary protection against moisture. It makes no difference what exactly to paint - the floor or the walls.

Excellent resistance to acids, gases and alkalis should also be considered an asset. As for the weak positions, they are as follows:

• High sensitivity to ultraviolet light.
• Rapid yellowing with significant heating.
• Drying takes over 24 hours.
• Rooms will have to be thoroughly ventilated, and cleaning before application should be very thorough.
• It is unacceptable to apply paint at temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius.
• According to technology, it is unsuitable for use on parts warming up more than +60 C.

Epoxies fall into two categories:

• Thermosetting paints recognize those that are based on components that are activated during heating and contribute to the spreading of paints, their polymerization. Such funds are distinguished by solid resistance to mechanical destructive factors.

• In turn, thermoplastic coatings should be applied to thoroughly prepared substrates by spraying dry matter after the substrate has warmed up.

Epoxy-based automotive paint is mostly available in aerosol spray form with cold cure components.

Two-component compositions of paints attract the attention of people most often, since they make it easy to apply the dye on their own. It should be noted that such compositions work well only with the strict implementation of the standard technology., thorough mixing of key ingredients with hardeners and strict adherence to proportions.

The two-component mixture, in addition to painting, can also be used as a primer that enhances the protection of surfaces from wear.

For metal, it is advisable to use the so-called epostat, characterized by increased anti-corrosion parameters. It is suitable for painting steel pipelines, and the specific purpose of the pipeline does not matter, the protection will be reliable.

They try to cover hydrocarbon storage tanks using EP 7003 enamel. enamel EP 1003, it is possible to block strong corrosive activity, from which construction machines and vehicles, hydraulic engineering complexes of various kinds suffer.

If the paint gets on the skin, it must be removed immediately with denatured alcohol or warm soapy water; the polymerized composition is practically not removed.

Although there are already quite a few epoxy paints now, they cannot be considered universal. The cost of the coating is very high, it should be applied by professionals (for amateurs it is difficult to provide the necessary safety measures).

Coloring compositions for concrete are used relatively recently; to avoid an early loss of properties, these mixtures must be diluted with distilled water... A long-lasting epoxy dispersion is then formed. Water-based epoxy floor enamels can be applied even to wet concrete, the technical parameters of the coating are much better than 10-15 years ago.

Always check in accordance with which GOST it is issued one or another paint and varnish material. Only this approach allows you to avoid the occurrence of many problems in the future, and to purchase an initially high-quality product.

Mixtures of epoxy resins with acrylics are mainly represented by aerosol preparations. Such combinations are distinguished by effective anti-corrosion protection, solid resistance to caustic substances and mechanical stress. Dust and dirt will not be deposited on the surface. The glossy type of coating that forms in this case easily tolerates even scratches and chips, the service life of the base, especially metal, increases significantly.

Epoxy-polyester compounds are relatively inexpensive, the immunity to rough abrasion is average. The surface will not turn yellow, even if hot sun rays constantly shine on it. But we must take into account that the resistance to corrosion and special solvents is very low, for the most part such a coating is of a decorative nature.

Polyester powder combinations wear very little, you can choose almost any color and texture. Gloss levels vary widely, and the drug is almost non-toxic. Itself is impervious to friction and effectively protects the painted surface from it.In some cases, it can be used as a replacement for a full-fledged primer.

Low-temperature mixtures should be polymerized only in special chambers, where during the first 20 minutes the air warms up to 180 degrees; dyes that can withstand 220 degrees in the first 600 s of processing are considered standard.

If we turn to the experience of professional repairmen and builders, then most of them put epoxy enamels of the brand in the first place Epstone... This material for finishing concrete floors is produced in Russia and is relatively inexpensive, while the quality characteristics are no worse than analogs from leading import competitors.

Another popular Russian product is "Elakor-ED"... The complete absence of chemically inert substances makes the mixture cheaper, but the protective quality is inevitably weakened. You can store the paint only at temperatures no higher than 25 degrees Celsius for six months.

American epoxies are considered technologically advanced and environmentally friendly. But their cost is quite high, and in some cases it is difficult to buy such mixtures. Finnish paints are not bad solutions; they provide high quality at a slightly more than average cost.

Finishing a concrete floor with an epoxy compound requires choosing options with increased antistatic parameters and minimal slip. Conventional paints of this type protect bathroom floors well; in terms of efficiency, they are almost as effective as real tiles. Paintwork materials will avoid corrosion of the coil, other metal part, protect wood from rot and gnawing insects.

For a bath, epoxy paint is also good: it is enough to emphasize that it is used even for boats and boats, that is, everything is in order with resistance to water.

Bath enamels of this kind are designed primarily to restore the integrity of their coating. You need to paint very carefully to avoid smudges.... It should also be borne in mind that epoxy compounds can be poisonous, and under unfavorable conditions they quickly acquire an unpleasant yellowness.

Epoxy compounds for painting ceramics (ceramic tiles) work well, but you will need to use special primers based on organic solvents in addition to them. The advantage is that the coating will be hard and resistant. Take into account the properties of the coloring composition (its adhesion), which should be the higher, the less adhesion of the tile itself.

Tile is characterized by poor adhesion, this indicator is slightly better in ceramic and clinker varieties, and the best positions in gypsum.

Always pay attention to how high the humidity is in the room.... Epoxy paints are ideal for painting floors: they dry quickly, wash well, and so on. Read carefully all the information on the toxicity and durability of the coating, remember that even externally similar options can be very different in terms of internal content.

An aerosol made from a pure epoxy composition is rare; it is mainly used as a mixture with acrylic components. The advantages of this solution are:

• Solid level of anti-corrosion protection.
• Effective counteraction to destructive factors, including caustic substances.
• Almost complete elimination of scratches and chips.

Epoxy coloring compositions can be used for all types of plastics, and they adhere to the base very reliably and efficiently.

Two-pack epoxy paints are formulated with a combination of epoxy resins and hardeners. Interacting with each other, they enter into an exothermic reaction (in other words, they get very hot).

To combine and mix the compositions, you need to take special wooden tools, those that are used for culinary purposes are categorically unsuitable. Regardless of the area to be painted and other nuances, you need to take care of effective ventilation.

If the paint gets on the skin, it must be immediately removed with denatured alcohol or warm soapy water, the polymerized composition is practically not removed.

Painting large areas using spray guns is not only more convenient, but also more economical., this is the easiest way to limit paint consumption to reasonable numbers. To apply epoxy paint to the concrete surface, you need to mix it for 2-3 minutes with the additives, pigment preparations, hardener specified by the manufacturer (the proportion of the entire mixture to the hardener is 10: 1.7).

Epoxy paints and their modifications with additional components can have various specific properties: some glide very little, others glow in the dark, others guarantee the highest level of protection, and others retain their beautiful texture or dry out quickly.

You can use various types of such dyes to decorate home and office furniture, containers for storing corrosive substances, camping equipment and decorative items in gardens and parks. You just need to carefully select a specific type and find out all the details about it.

It is quite simple to detect the presence of drops on the surface of the bath - you just need to illuminate it with an LED flashlight, after turning off the top light beforehand, and all defects will immediately become apparent. You can easily mark the deformed areas.

After sanding and leveling the surface, it must be rinsed several times with clean water, removing in advance all those contaminants that are removed by dry method.

For work, you need to take brushes only with natural bristles (at least three different sizes), tweezers or nail tongs are also useful, with which you will need to remove adhered hairs from the surface. Prepare scissors in advance so that you can shorten the loose brush and return it to its normal state.

Epoxy paint should be prepared in small portions, for 10-15 minutes of work, as it hardens very quickly. Following these simple rules, it will be easy to choose and apply epoxy paint without any problems.

For an example of using epoxy paint, see the following video.