California Custom Coatings specializes in protecting and beautifying your concrete with epoxy, acrylic, and polyurethane coatings. These coatings are used in layers to complement their respective strengths. Because all coatings are measured by certain standards, we can select the products that are best suited for your needs. Whether you need strong adhesion, outstanding impact protection, superior UV resistance, or enduring color fastness, California Custom Coatings can mix and match for every circumstance.
Naming the Eight Coating Standards
Eight standards for coatings are in use worldwide. While the specific standards vary from continent to continent, the characteristics measured are the same. Here are the eight standards used around the world.
Appearance
How well does a coating withstand environmental factors? Does it resist blistering and color loss despite exposure to the elements, UV radiation, and salt spray? The results of these tests measure the quality of a coating’s appearance.
Adhesion Strength
A primary factor in the quality of any adhesive is how well it sticks to its substrate. Many professional standards essentially expect that the concrete should break before the material that coats it! Whether new or aged, a coating is expected to maintain its adhesion strength.
Freeze-Thaw Resistance
While Sacramento sees little freezing and ice, other parts of the world face frost and cold for many months. Lake Tahoe and other towns in the Sierras are certainly exceptions to the rule of “sunny California” during fall and winter, so we also serve nearby clients who care about how well a coatings holds up to freezing temperatures. Freeze-thaw resistance typically examines whether a coating avoids cracking or peeling due to changes in temperature.
Abrasion Resistance
Where traffic, scratches, and impacts are expected, abrasion resistance comes into play. Most standards examine how much of a coating is removed from a surface due to thousands of test cycles that simulate moving traffic or skidding wheels. Only the toughest coatings can pass these tests!
Water Absorption
The idea here is that a coating does not absorb water after lengthy periods of full immersion. It should look the same whether it was submerged or not. A high score on the water absorption standard is critical for coatings used in wet environments.
Chemical Resistance
A high chemical resistance rating requires that a coating survive long immersion periods in oils, solvents, acids, and alkalis. This standard is even tougher than the ratings for water absorption, requiring significantly longer testing periods. Coatings rated for chemical resistance can be trusted to do the job while still looking good over the long term.
UV Aging Resistance
UV resistance tests require that a coating survive thousands of hours of exposure to ultraviolet light. After testing, a coating should not demonstrate significant color loss or an excessive decline in surface gloss. Where exposure to sunlight is commonplace, your coating requires a high UV aging resistance score.
Chloride-ion Penetration Resistance
Chloride ions are found in salt sprays, like those occurring in oceanic environments, around salt-water aquariums, or in chemical plants. This standard requires the longest testing of all; a 90-day immersion test is a common guideline. Chloride-ion penetration resistance requires that despite long-term immersion in a chloride ion solution, a coating does not allow salt molecules to penetrate through its surface.
Create Your Custom Coating with Reliable Standards
California Custom Coatings takes your requirements for epoxy coatings and compares them to the performance standards for available products. With so many manufacturers and available materials, we can guarantee a match for your concrete coating needs. Get more information about coating standards and a free onsite consultation by contacting California Custom Coatings by phone or online!