What’s in a coating?
A beautiful coating on metal products can make a strong statement, whether used on a high-end commercial project, an industrial building or a home. Rugged, durable coatings will ensure that bright, clean colors stay looking great overtime. They protect the degradation of color pigments due to outdoor exposure, predominantly, to ultraviolet (UV rays) that cause chalking and fading.
Coatings are applied to the surface of an object, typically referred to as the substrate, and form an essential part of the finished product. In many cases, coatings improve the surface properties including adhesion, appearance and corrosion or wear and scratch resistance.
While each coating system contains the same four principal ingredients, that combination of ingredients can change depending on the final color and application of the coating:
• Resin: serves as the binder and holds the pigment to the substrate;
• Pigment: provides color, hiding and chemical resistance;
• Solvent: vehicle for solids to be transported to the substrate’s surface; and
• Additives: chemicals added in small amounts to deliver special coating effects.
There is no limit to the number of applications for metal coatings beyond metal building components…from office furniture and lighting fixtures to transportation and appliances.
