2.1 Chemical Characteristics and Reaction Principles
Polyurea is a coating material developed by Texaco in the early 1980s in the United States. It is formed by the reaction of isocyanate and amine, which acts as a curing agent.
Through heating, mixing, and spraying processes, a chemically stable bond is created. This bond forms a waterproof film layer. This film layer exhibits excellent performance in the repair, reinforcement, waterproofing, and corrosion protection of floors and structures such as concrete.
Application is primarily done via spray coating. When the two raw materials are mixed under high temperature and high pressure and then sprayed, the chemical reaction begins immediately after spraying. This reaction speed is polyurea's most significant characteristic: ultra-fast curing.
400-450% depending on grade
Gas / Liquid
Based on FR rating
It cures within seconds to minutes after spraying, and foot traffic is possible within a few hours. Thanks to this ease of handling, applications covering hundreds of square meters per day are possible.
2.2 Differences from Polyurethane and Epoxy
The following table compares polyurea with polyurethane, epoxy, FRP, and polymer cement-based materials by item.
Material Comparison by Item
| Category | Polyurea | Polyurethane | Epoxy | FRP | Polymer Cement-based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abrasion Resistance | 8mg wear | 293mg wear | 55mg wear | 108mg wear | No data |
| Chemical Resistance | Resistant to 15% sulfuric acid, up to 50% sulfuric acid depending on grade | Resistant to 20% sulfuric acid, room temp. | Resistant to 20% sulfuric acid, room temp. | Resistant to 80% sulfuric acid, room temp. | Resistant to 80% sulfuric acid, room temp. |
| Heat Resistance | Gas 120โ, Liquid 85โ | 110โ | Approx. 80โ | 70~100โ | Gas 120โ, Liquid 90โ |
| Waterproofing | Zero permeability | Zero permeability | Zero permeability | Zero permeability | Permeability acceptable, but vapor permeable |
| Adhesion to Concrete | 3.0N/mmยฒ or more | 2.5N/mmยฒ or more | 2.5N/mmยฒ or more | 1.5N/mmยฒ or more | 1.5N/mmยฒ or more |
| Crack Bridging Ability | Elongation 400-450% | Elongation 50ยฑ5% | Elongation less than 5% | Elongation less than 5% | Bridges cracks up to 0.5mm |
| Curing | Curing time: minutes | Curing time: minutes | Curing time: approx. 1 hour | Curing time: 48 hours | 48 hours curing, water can be introduced after 7 days |
| Film Characteristics | Continuous film, seamless | Continuous film, seamless | Continuous film, seamless | Not continuous | Continuous film, seamless |
Based on the Taber abrasion test, polyurea shows only 8mg of wear, whereas epoxy shows 55mg and polyurethane shows 293mg. Polyurea also exhibits a significant difference in crack bridging ability with an elongation of 400-450%, compared to epoxy's less than 5%.
Pipes are continuously subjected to subtle stresses from vibrations, ground movement, and internal pressure changes. Materials with low crack bridging ability and abrasion resistance are at high risk of cracking or peeling over time. Polyurea's high elongation and low abrasion rate are relatively advantageous in such environments.
2.3 Polyurea for Pipe Lining vs. Polyurea for Flooring
In Korea, polyurea is mostly known as a waterproofing material for building floors or rooftops. However, in the United States and Europe, polyurea is already common for industrial special coatings, particularly for internal and external lining applications to protect and reinforce water and sewage pipes, and to rehabilitate aging and corroded pipelines.
HIGHCOATIC uses special raw materials developed exclusively for pipe lining, not the polyurea typically used for flooring. With these materials, we provide technology for anti-corrosion coating of new pipes, as well as for rehabilitating and restoring existing aging pipes.
Comparison of Polyurea for Flooring and Polyurea for Pipe Lining
| Category | Polyurea for Flooring & Waterproofing | HIGHCOATIC Polyurea for Pipe Lining |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Application Areas | Building floors, rooftops, exterior walls | Pipe interiors, pipe exteriors |
| Typical Thickness | Thin film coating, typically 1-2mm | Structural lining forming 19-51mm |
| Application Method | Spray, roller, brush | Remote, unmanned high-pressure spraying using robots; rollers and brushes may be used concurrently if needed |
| Applicable Products | General waterproofing grade | Dedicated grades such as ST, PP300, XT-Plus, customized for the pipe's conveyed material and pressure |
Even though it's the same polyurea, its performance varies significantly depending on the component ratio and grade. The specific product applied depends on the substance flowing through the pipe and the pressure, thus pipe lining demands a specialized expertise distinct from general flooring applications.
PART 2 Summary
- Polyurea is a coating material produced by the reaction of isocyanate and amine, with ultra-fast curing as its core characteristic.
- It possesses superior test data compared to polyurethane, epoxy, and FRP in terms of abrasion resistance, crack bridging capability, and concrete adhesion.
- Polyurea for flooring and polyurea for pipe lining are distinct areas, differing in thickness, application method, and applicable products.
- HIGHCOATIC provides pipe rehabilitation technology by combining specialized raw materials for pipe lining with robotic application.