Polyaspartic Coating Helps Homeowner Add Value, Improve Aesthetics of Garage
Pittsburgh, February 26, 2009 -- Bayer MaterialScience LLC employee C.B. Watson, a homeowner in Hidden Valley, Pa., has become the envy of his neighbors due to a new polyaspartic coating applied to his residential concrete garage floor.
The two-component waterborne coating, based on technology from Bayer MaterialScience, was installed by a local applicator in the oversized, two-car integral garage. The garage is used primarily to park the family's vehicles, as well as for storage for tools.
"The original concrete work in the garage was not very good," said Watson. "We wanted to improve the look of the garage with a product that would wear well over time. The coating is easy to clean and resistant to automotive fluids and road salt, which helps us reduce the amount of dust and dirt going in and out of our house."
The coating was applied as part of a two-day process. The first day, the garage was prepped by grinding the original concrete and applying a prime coat and color chips. On day two, the top coat was roller applied. Watson was able to begin using the garage again 24 hours after the top coat application.
"Polyaspartic technology is similar to two-component aliphatic polyurethane coatings in its applications and performance characteristics, but with noteworthy advantages including its ability to be formulated to higher solids and applied at higher film builds," said Ed Squiller, director of business development, Corrosion and Construction Coatings, NAFTA, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.
Polyaspartic coatings have a unique, adjustable reactivity with the capability for fast-curing that can provide significant, money-saving productivity improvements, along with good outdoor weathering, high gloss retention and excellent corrosion resistance. This low-VOC coating technology allows formulators the flexibility to control the rate of reaction and cure, providing the option to formulate a mixture with a potlife ranging from five minutes to two hours.
In most cases, the application of polyaspartic coatings can be done with standard spray equipment, and in many instances a single coat is all that's required. Polyaspartic coatings are often used as a topcoat due to their non-yellowing nature, and the coatings also block ultraviolet light from discoloring undercoats. The coatings can be applied to a wide range of substrates in both low-temperature and high-humidity environments.
Some notable applications of BMS polyaspartic coatings include a specially formulated color topcoat for an external concrete-protecting membrane at the Atlanta Braves' spring training facility at Wide World of Sports Disney World; concrete surface restoration coating at Dodger Stadium; and clear topcoats for more than 70,000 square feet of decorative concrete flooring at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Fla.
In addition to proving its worth day in and day out in these high-profile venues, polyaspartic coating technology is also getting some attention in a small western Pennsylvania community. "My neighbors have all asked about the garage floor," explains Watson. "It's caused quite a stir."
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with nearly 15,400 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2007 sales of 10.4 billion euros. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Our inorganic basic chemicals unit produces chlorine and related essential products for the chemicals industry.
Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and high-tech materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2007 net sales of 8.1 billion euros and employed 16,800 at year end. Bayer's three subgroups, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience, improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose, prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability.
Contact:
Thomas Erdner, Phone: 412-777-5200
E-mail: thomas.erdner@bayerbms.com
For more information about Bayer MaterialScience, call 1-412-777-3983, e-mail naftainfo@bayerbms.com or visit www.bayermaterialscienceNAFTA.com.
