A new type of ceramic coating now on the market is not only completely VOC-free, but is also promising to deliver an abrasion-, corrosion-, high-temperature- and chemical-resistant finish that can be applied in a high build, single coat with no primer by a licensed contractor.
Captivated by the
possibilities the protective ceramic coating presented, Robbins stayed in touch
with its developer, Wilson, NC-based EonCoat LLC, ultimately visiting the plant,
participating in testing and providing R&D feedback from the professional
paint contractors’ perspective.
“For industrial and commercial customers looking to limit VOCs and HAPs to meet
stricter regulation, EonCoat is a proactive way to do so,” says Robbins. “Before
the two components are combined in the spray gun, they’re kept separate and, if
spilled, are easily cleaned up as mild, non-hazardous substances. After they’re
combined, they’re completely consumed and dry within seconds of application. There
are no fumes. Contractors could literally spray within 10 feet of someone
working in an occupied space with no concern for odor or getting residue on
carpet, computers or office furniture.”
One-coat application and minimal prep for the protective ceramic coating can
save paint contractors up to 40%, since labor is cut in half and labor is
typically about 70% of the cost of painting. Unlike paint, which usually
requires a primer coat and two topcoats with at least eight hours drying time
between each, the ceramic coating’s natural corrosion protection eliminates the
need for a primer and a second topcoat. Because it dries within seconds of exiting
the spray nozzle, high build coatings in one coat are possible. This
accelerates facility maintenance return to service.
“Since the protective ceramic coating is dry to the touch in seconds, there’s
no wait to recoat,” says Robbins. “Contractors can high build exterior or
interior surfaces immediately, which can expedite tight customer schedules. That
means many coating jobs in occupied areas could get done in a single day or
weekend, instead of taking several weekends waiting for multiple coats of
primer or paint to dry.”
In contrast to typical paint polymer coatings that sit on top of the substrate,
EonCoat bonds through a chemical reaction with the substrate, and slight
surface oxidation actually improves the reaction. This makes it virtually
impossible for corrosion promoters like oxygen and humidity to get behind the
coating the way they can with ordinary paints. The corrosion barrier is covered
by a true ceramic shell, which resists fire, water, abrasion, chemicals,
corrosion and temperatures up to 1,000 °F.
EonCoat, in fact, has a flame spread rating of zero, which means that flame can
be directly exposed to its coated surface and it will not catch fire unless
enough heat is generated to make the substrate behind the coating self-ignite. “The anti-fire, anti-water, anti-abrasion and
anti-corrosion benefits of the new protective ceramic coating make it a
promising product to use for a host of applications from extending the service
life of tanks, machinery, steam pipes and cement floors to serving as slimmer,
less-costly alternative to existing bulky firewalls,” says
Robbins.
Another plus for contractors is how the protective ceramic coating can be
applied on hot or cold surfaces, from 35 ºF to 200 ºF, which, unlike paint,
makes it suitable for all-weather application. “If we’re not painting or
coating a substrate, we’re not making money,” says Robbins. “Hot or cold
weather can halt a paint job; that’s not the case with the protective ceramic
coating. It works well in high or low temperature, which means contractors keep
working.”
“For a building industry that’s been stuck in neutral for too long, EonCoat is
a game-changing building material,” says Robbins. “I’d have trouble believing
its properties if I hadn’t seen them myself in hands-on application and testing.
It opens possibilities for contractors from new builds, to retrofits, to
maintenance in industrial, commercial, and even residential settings. My only
concern is that our application of the protective ceramic coating does justice
to the product itself. That’s why my company’s staff will get EonCoat-certified
as soon as we’re able to.”
EonCoat LLC is offering a comprehensive package of training, equipment,
certification, and sales distribution to select domestic and international
paint contractors. For more info, call 252-360-3110; email TonyC@EonCoat.com or
visit www.eoncoat.com.