Sealing agents for coatings and structural elements have long been divided into two categories: natural and synthetic materials. Oddly enough, today there is still a place for natural raw materials, which surpasses artificial materials in its indicators. But even among representatives of synthetic substitutes for traditional building materials, many worthy options appear. Polyurea is also in this row. What is it and why is it needed - these questions have not been relevant for professional builders for a long time, but a simple layman should understand them in more detail. Due to its unique qualities, this synthetic material allows for high-quality insulation, replacing most of the usual means of this group.
General information about polyurea
The material belongs to synthetic polymers and in its structure resembles polyurethanes, which are synthesized by copolymerization of diisocyanates. Actually, joining the group of elastomers determined the qualities that polyurea possesses. What is this in terms of application practice? Primarily a material capable of forming hard and durable coatings. The cure reaction rate is high enough, however, additional technological adjustments may be required for the manufacture of molding products.
Another feature of the synthetic material is due to the high nucleophilicity of amines. This means that the structure of the finished product is less sensitive to moisture. It is this characteristic that has determined one of the main tasks for which polyurea coating is used in construction - waterproofing.
Varieties of Polyurea
It can be said that entire groups of synthetic polymers are interconnected and, in a sense, can act as modifications of each other. However, polyurea has two fundamentally different subspecies: these are aliphatic and aromatic compounds. The first option is interesting in that it can be used to form ultraviolet-resistant coatings. That is, the treatment with polyurea in the form of a coating does not deform and does not lose its color under the influence of sunlight.
The second variety is aromatic polyurea, which can be considered as a universal material. So, if aliphatic coatings are more suitable for protecting the roof, then this option is suitable for waterproofing the foundation, and as a means of processing decorative surfaces indoors. In addition, polyurea waterproofing is used today for production equipment, vehicles, as well as in the creation of persistent protective barriers for hydraulic stations and structures.
One component and two component formulations
To understand this separation, we should turn to the principles of the reaction of polyurea. The material standard is a two-component composition that acts under the influence of a catalyst. That is, the solidification process occurs using an auxiliary component. Now it’s worth turning to the question of what constitutes a single-component polyurea. What is this in the process of forming a waterproofing coating? This is a convenient material in application that does not require a catalyst reaction, i.e. crystallization is carried out independently, allowing manual processing.
It would seem that ease of use should push single-component formulations to first place, pushing the more demanding two-component analogue. Nevertheless, in terms of strength, the situation is changing in the opposite direction. It is advisable to use one-component compositions as auxiliary protection, but ordinary polyurea should be used to process critical areas. With your own hands you can apply a two-component composition, the main thing is to use special equipment for this purpose.
Urea waterproofing technology
There are several areas in which this type of waterproofing is used. This is the treatment of pool surfaces, the sealing of foundations and the protection of roofing from water. In most cases, the coating is applied in a thin layer by the spraying method. Differences in approaches may be due to requirements for coating loads, external influences, degree of adhesion, etc. Again, polyurea waterproofing can be performed using one- or two-component compositions. When working with objects such as foundations and roofing structures, it is advisable to use means of the second type, since strength characteristics come to the fore. Waterproofing less resistant to physical influences can be used as an auxiliary protective coating.
Manual processing
As already mentioned, a single-component composition is more suitable for independent processing. Before applying the material, dilute the polyurea with water. However, dilution should only be done if the viscosity is reduced. In other cases, it is enough to stir the solution to obtain a uniform shade. In most cases, manual application polyurea does not require the use of a special tool or other auxiliary components. It is enough to apply it with a roller or brush. But in working with metal surfaces, it is still recommended to use a primer. It is also used in the processing of glass surfaces. After completing the waterproofing, wait one day for the coating to gain sufficient hardness.
Special equipment processing
Professional builders use special equipment to prepare and spray polyurea. In particular, aggregates for spraying seamless insulating coatings are offered for these needs. As a rule, these are high-pressure apparatuses capable of storing dozens of recipes for preparing polyurea mixtures in memory. In the latest models, equipment for applying polyurea is equipped with functional modules for analysis of the treated surface, indicators of the level of the working mixture, flow meters and other devices that increase the ergonomics of the apparatus.
Other applications
The combination of hardness and resistance to moisture led to the widespread dissemination of polyurea. Of course, first of all it is used in construction and finishing works. But the merits of the material were also appreciated by shipbuilding companies, auto repair shops, service enterprises that are engaged in technical support of various structures, bridges and tanks. There is also the benefit of this material as a heat insulator. To understand this property, it is worth recalling the answer to the question, polyurea - what is it. This is, first of all, a fast-setting polymer that provides effective sealing and durability. That is, if you treat the surface of the finishing layer with this coating, then you can completely forget about the cold bridges.
Conclusion
Like all modern high-tech materials, polyurea is ahead of competing insulation in price. This is not cheap material, but the result is decent. Another thing is that for private needs polyurea of manual application should be used, since the purchase of expensive equipment will make it inappropriate to use this technology. Conversely, in the case of large-scale insulation measures, special sprayers cannot be dispensed with. Dosing agents will provide uniform coverage and save on consumption. It should also be borne in mind that polyurea manufacturers are different, respectively, and the performance of a particular brand may vary.