Selecting the Right System
Protective coating selection revolves around the answers to two questions: what's the substrate, and what are the exposure risks?
Substrate
Concrete and metal behave differently. Concrete is porous, moves with moisture and temperature, and requires surface preparation that opens the profile without weakening it. Metal needs a clean, properly profiled surface and protection that stays bonded as the substrate expands and contracts. Surface preparation follows ICRI and AMPP standards in both cases.
Exposure
The environment determines system selection. Immersion, chemical contact, abrasion, UV, and temperature cycling each place different demands on a coating. A system that performs well in one environment may not hold up in another. Most projects face multiple exposures at the same time.
Performance Requirements
Beyond substrate and exposure, specifications can face practical constraints, such as return-to-service time, VOC limits, confined-space requirements, or the temperature during application. Intellathane systems include 100% solids, zero-VOC options, and fast-cure systems that return structures to service quickly.