Elastomeric Coatings- Flexible and Breathable
If you are thinking about using elastomeric paints on your building surface or floor, you will want to check out the blog post at https://penncoatinc.com/blog/penncoat-inc-industrial-painting-elastomeric-coating/.
What makes elastomeric coatings so flexible and breathable?
Of course, the answer lies in the chemistry.
Elastomers are composed of long chain-like molecules that are irregularly coiled. They can stretch between 300% and 600% of their original shape and still return to normal. This is because the molecules will straighten in the direction they are pulled. When the force releases, they go back to their irregular formation.
So what does this mean for a coating on your wall?
In an area that is prone to temperature swings in a short period of time- say Baltimore, Philadelphia, York, or Lancaster in the summer, an elastomeric coating is invaluable. The days can be in the 90s and the nights in the 50s. Your wall is going to expand and contract and some materials are just not going to perform well over time in this environment.
Elastomers can expand and contract back into their former position; this helps the surface to be maintained, as it will allow some movement in the material. Therefore, cracks will not be an issue with a flexible material.
And breath-ability?
In areas of high rain, especially those rains that seem to come down sideways, your surface needs to breathe without damaging the adhesion of the coating. Breathing is what transfers moisture from one side of your coating to the other. Moisture that cannot escape from underneath your coating will blister and peel, ruining your building or flooring.
Elastomeric coatings are tested using an ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) protocol that rates breath-ability in “perms.” This is “the number of grains of water vapor per hour per square foot per inch of mercury-water vapor pressure difference.”
In other words-it measures moisture vapor transmission and the higher the rating, the better the breath-ability in your elastomeric coating.
A rating of between 8 and 12 perms is expected in order to be considered “breathable.” In order to measure all coatings in a fair manner, they are tested at the same film thickness.
If you decide to apply more than one layer to your surface, this breath-ability becomes less with each layer. This now can turn a breathable coating into a barrier coating. This inhibits water vapor transfer and can lead to damage to the surface.
Because you want to protect and enhance your surface with elastomeric coatings, it is a good idea to speak to the professionals at PennCoat for a perfect choice every time.
PennCoat, Inc. has been providing industrial painting, commercial painting, epoxy flooring, and polished concrete services for nearly 30 years. Our experienced installers are trained and equipped with the proper knowledge and tools to ensure that every installation is installed efficiently and safely. PennCoat, Inc. provides service to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. And we cover York, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Bucks, Berks, and other counties in the surrounding area.