Specialty Coatings

The term "specialty coatings" generally refers to epoxies, paints, and other coatings for flooring, tanks, industrial parts, and other items that require protective coatings with special properties. Whether your goal is to prevent contamination or corrosion, enhance or reduce traction, or seal and protect flooring, many manufacturers specialize in formulating coatings to meet your needs.

Epoxy: A Versatile Substance for Specialty Coatings

Most specialty coatings are derived from some form of epoxy. Epoxy is an extremely versatile flexible thermosetting polymer that is very durable and can be formulated for a myriad of coating or adhesive needs. In the coating industry, it is particularly useful for creating floor or surface coatings that have specific properties such as dissipation of static electricity, impact resistance, or improved traction. These formulations can be made to be environmentally friendly.

One example of a specialty coating can be found in hospitals, laboratories, and clean rooms. These are places where flooring and other surfaces need to be free of static electricity that can affect sensitive electronics or machinery. Tanks found in food factories, water treatment facilities, and breweries provide another example, as they must have linings that are FDA approved for the health and welfare of customers and citizens. A specialty coating for this application can make a tank suitable for use in food production.

In some instances, specialty coatings may be needed to improve the slip resistance of a surface such as a floor or pool deck. In other instances resistance may be the enemy, such as on boat hulls or water slides. In addition, a coating applied to a boat hull needs to be safe and legal to clean in the water. There are specialty coatings for all of these applications.