Novel Hybrid Meets Demand for UV Protection and Chemical Resistance in Low-VOC Coatings for Institutional Interiors
By Henry Eichman, Research Technologist, Zhenwen Fu, Research Fellow, Art Leman, Technical Service Manager, Bingquan Li, Technical Service Scientist, and Leo Procopio, Application Development Leader, Dow Coating Materials, Collegeville, PA
Epoxy coating systems are the traditional go-to solution for institutional interiors because they offer a level of chemical resistance that stands up to the rigorous cleaning regimens and harsh cleaning agents commonly used in these high-traffic spaces. Unfortunately, exposure to UV rays can lead to chalking, yellowing and gloss reduction. This has always limited epoxy’s effectiveness in exterior coating systems. Now it is an emerging issue for interior coating systems due to the growing popularity of daylighting.