AESTHETIC TOPCOAT

INFORMATIONAL GUIDE

FROM SPEC TO PROTECT sherwin-williams.com/protective

PERFORMANCE BY TECHNOLOGY
GENERAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS BY TECHNOLOGY
Gloss & Color Hardness (Refer to Temperature Applied Direct
Flexibility Corrosion Resistance
Resistance Figure 4) Resistance to Metal

Acrylic Good H-2B Fair 500°F + No No

Alkyd Fair 3B Fair 200°F Yes Yes

Epoxy Poor 6H-6B Poor/Fair 300°F + Yes Yes

Epoxy
Very Good 2H-6B Good 275°F Yes Yes
Polysiloxane

Fluoropolymer Excellent 2H-6B Very Good 300°F No Yes

Polyaspartic Good 6H-6B Fair/Poor 200°F Yes Yes

Polyurethane Good 4H-6B Good 250°F No Yes

FIGURE 4 - ASTM D3363 PENCIL HARDNESS SCALE

6B 5B 4B 3B 2B B HB F H 2H 3H 4H 5H 6H

Soft Medium Hard

ACCELERATED WEATHERING BY TECHNOLOGY

QUV EXPOSURE BY TECHNOLOGY
100.00
90.00

80.00
GLOSS RETENTION

70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000
EXPOSURE (HRS)

Standard Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane High Performing Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane Moisture Cure Urethane
Fluoropolymer Acrylic Epoxy
Premium Polysiloxane Polyaspartics Alkyd

Standard Aliphatic Acrylic Urethane w/ Diamond Clad

Additional questions on specific product performance within a technology should be directed to the product marketing team.

2 SHERWIN-WILLIAMS®
POLYASPARTIC
Polyaspartic coatings are aliphatic polyureas, although application and performance
characteristics are closer aligned to two-component aliphatic urethanes. These
two-component coatings are created by a reaction of an aliphatic poly-isocyanate
with an aliphatic diamine (polyaspartic ester).

ADVANTAGES LIMITATIONS
• Barrier/direct to metal (DTM) properties - profile needed • Low acid/chemical resistance
• Fast cure with working pot life • Short recoat window
• Early moisture resistance • Flexibility
• High-film build (up to 9 DFT) • High surface tension
• Substrate must have profile or newly applied epoxy
primer for chemical adhesion
• Cannot be applied directly to concrete

TYPICAL SYSTEMS
Can be used as an atmospheric topcoat in a two- (zinc-rich primer/polyurethane) or three-coat system (zinc-rich primer/
epoxy base coat/polyurethane) or even as a DTM coating

Primers (if needed): Corothane® I GalvaPac 1K, Zinc Clad® 4100, Zinc Clad® II Plus

Most often applied direct to metal (profile needed) with no system required

MARKET SEGMENTS
• Oil & Gas • Food & Beverage
• Infrastructure • Rail
• High Performance Flooring • Bridge & Highway

POLYASPARTIC PRODUCT PERFORMANCE

PRODUCT SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY FUNCTION
Envirolastic® 950* Polyaspartic urethane Direct to metal, topcoat

Envirolastic® 940 LV Polyaspartic urethane Direct to metal

Envirolastic® 840 DTM Polyaspartic urethane Direct to metal

*Launch planned for 2022

FROM SPEC TO PROTECT 3

POLYURETHANES
Aliphatic acrylic polyurethane coatings are based on the reaction of an aliphatic,
poly-isocyanate monomer with a polyol. Enhancements made to the resin, such as
a polyester, can change the performance characteristics of the coating. Moisture-
cured urethanes (MCUs) are specifically based on the reaction of an aromatic or
aliphatic isocyanate and cures through a reaction with water.

ADVANTAGES LIMITATIONS
• High performance acrylic system • Highly susceptible to moisture during cure
• Ideal for areas where rust-inhibitive, corrosion- • ISO component for cure
resistant primer is essential • Cannot be applied directly to concrete or steel in
• Fast dry, low-temperature application most cases
• Fast dry acrylic coating • Outgassing/foaming when over-applied causing down
• Excellent color and gloss retention glossing (MCUs)

TYPICAL SYSTEMS
Typically used as an atmospheric topcoat in a three-coat system (zinc-rich primer, epoxy base coat, polyurethane). Exterior
use on metals, bridges, highways, etc. Interior use for chemical clean rooms or sanitary disinfection areas. MCUs are used in
cold and/or high moisture conditions.

Primers: Zinc Clad II Plus, recoatable epoxy primer, Zinc Clad 4100, Macropoxy® 646

Intermediate (if needed): Macropoxy 646

MARKET SEGMENTS
• Oil & Gas
• Water & Wastewater
• Infrastructure
• High Performance Flooring
• Food & Beverage
• Rail
• Bridge & Highway

4 SHERWIN-WILLIAMS®
POLYURETHANES PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
Specific Impact Gloss Color Chemical
Product Function Benefit Flexibility Adhesion Cure Rate
Technology Resistance Retention Retention Resistance

Good overall
Polyester properties with
**Acrolon™ 218 modified, good spray
aliphatic acrylic application;
economical

Corothane® II Aliphatic acrylic

Fair overall
Acrolon™ 7300 Acrylic properties;
economical

SherThane® 2K Aliphatic acrylic

**Hi-Solids
Good overall
Polyurethane/
properties with
**Hi-Solids Aliphatic acrylic
good brush and
Polyurethane
roll application
250
All Topcoat
Chemical
Polyester
**Intermediate resistant and
Polylon™ HP modified,
if used under a abrasion
aliphatic
fluoropolymer resistant

Corothane® I MCU; low temp

Moisture cure
Aliphatic application: 20°F

MCU; high
solids/more
Corothane® I HS
Moisture cure coverage,
Aliphatic
low temp
application: 20°F

Best brush and

roll application
**Acrolon™ Ultra Acrylic with very good
color/gloss
resistance

Pro Industrial™ Waterbased Good color and

WB Acrolon 100 acrylic gloss resistance

Fair
Good
Better
Best

FROM SPEC TO PROTECT 5

POLYSILOXANE
Polysiloxane products are created by combining an organic resin (epoxy or acrylate) with
a methoxyl functional silicone resin and an amino silane. These coatings have single-
component (air drying and moisture curing) or two-component (catalyzed) formulas.

ADVANTAGES LIMITATIONS
• Iso free • Embrittlement at high DFTs
• High UV / weathering resistance • Due to the condensation reaction during cure, solvent is
• High surface tension for good aesthetics and cleanability released and the coating shrinks, which can facilitate adhesion
loss depending on previous coating and/or surface prep
• Two-coat system
• Recommend an X-cut adhesion test to make sure coating
• Chemical resistance is overcoatable
• Long application season with low temperature cure
hardener (20°F)

TYPICAL SYSTEMS
Can be used as an atmospheric topcoat in a two- (zinc-rich primer/polyurethane) or three-coat (zinc-rich primer/epoxy base
coat/polyurethane) system or even as a DTM coating.

Primer (if needed): Corothane® I GalvaPac 1K, Macropoxy® 646

Most often applied direct to metal with no system required.

MARKET SEGMENTS
• Oil & Gas • Food & Beverage
• Water & Wastewater • Marine
• Infrastructure • Bridge & Highway

POLYSILOXANE PRODUCT PERFORMANCE

PRODUCT SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY FUNCTION
Direct to metal, intermediate (under fluoropoly-
Sher-Loxane® 800 Epoxy siloxane
mer), topcoat

Polysiloxane XLE-80 Epoxy siloxane Direct to metal, topcoat

Polysiloxane XLE-80 HF Epoxy siloxane Direct to metal, topcoat

6 SHERWIN-WILLIAMS®
FLUOROPOLYMER
Fluoroethylene vinyl ether (FEVE) polyurethane topcoats are created using
fluoro-copolymers and are catalyzed with an aliphatic isocyanate. The alternating
structure of the fluorethylene vinyl ether resins allows for maximal ultraviolet
resistance and very high gloss while still providing the flexibility, hardness and
abrasion resistance comparable to two-component aliphatic urethane coatings.
These coatings are two-component catalyzed.

ADVANTAGES LIMITATIONS
• Exceptional UV / weather resistance • High cost
• Chemical resistance • Difficult to overcoat
• Graffiti resistance • Must be used over a polyurethane (not direct to an epoxy)
to mitigate risk for chalking and delamination

TYPICAL SYSTEMS
Can be used as an atmospheric topcoat where long-lasting color and gloss retention are critical.

Primers: Dura-Plate® 235, Corothane® I GalvaPac

Intermediate (required): Acrolon® 218, Hi-Solids Polyurethane 250, Sher-Loxane® 800

MARKET SEGMENTS
• Bridge & Highway
• Water & Wastewater
• Infrastructure

FLUOROPOLYMER PRODUCT PERFORMANCE

PRODUCT SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGY FUNCTION
Fluorokem® HS 100 Fluoropolymer urethane Topcoat

FROM SPEC TO PROTECT 7

 AESTHETIC
TOPCOAT
INFORMATIONAL
GUIDE

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS DIFFERENCE

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unparalleled technical and specification service, and unmatched regional commercial team
support to our customers around the globe. Our broad portfolio of high-performance coatings
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distribution footprint, including Oil & Gas, Water & Wastewater, Bridge & Highway, Steel
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8 SHERWIN-WILLIAMS®