All You Should Know About Water-Borne Polyurethane

It’s been decades since oil-based polyurethane was first used as adhesives and coatings, but the tide has turned and water-based polyurethane is becoming more popular. It’s no surprise that the industry’s global market worth hit $1.7 billion in 2020 and is predicted to reach $2.1 billion by 2025.

This blog will guide you about everything you should know about the multi-functional and advantageous water-borne polyurethane:

Gives a Shiny Outlook

Everyone wants their lives to be glamorous. You want everything to look elegant and charismatic from your clothes to your cars. But class and elegance come at a cost.  What if we told you there was a method to do it all for a reasonable price? Isn’t that exciting?

Water-based polyurethane can give a shiny outlook to various surfaces. Whether it’s about giving your cars a shiny appearance or treating your synthetic leather clothing and shoes, water-based polyurethane can do it all.

It can also restore your floors’ appearance and give a new look if you’re renovating your office or home.

Boost the Durability of Your Products

Amid the escalating inflation, you want the items you buy to last a long time. There’s no better way to protect your goods than with water-based polyurethane coatings.

You’ll be shocked to learn that any item covered with water-based polyurethane becomes resistant to rust, scuffs, and water. Furthermore, it shields your products from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, ensuring their long-term durability.

Drying Time Is Minimal

You can’t afford to wait an eternity for the polyurethane to dry because of your hectic schedule. Water-based polyurethane does not take as long as oil-based polyurethane to dry.

Oil-based polyurethane will take two to three times longer to dry between applications than water-based polyurethane if all other factors, including humidity and temperature, remain constant. As a result, applying water-based polyurethane is faster as you can re-coat quickly.

It Has No Effect on the Smell or Color of Your Item

There’s nothing better than water-based polyurethane if you want to retain your product’s originality. It’s clear, so it doesn’t detract from the aesthetic of your product and doesn’t change the physical appearance of your item. It’s also odorless, which makes it simple to apply and use.

You Can Add As Many Coats as You Want

You can apply as many coatings as you want with water-based polyurethane. Want eight coats? Go for it. There is no limitation.

However, with oil-based polyurethane, you can’t add on as many layers as you want as it is prone to chipping, scratching, and sheeting after a few layers.

Decreased quantity of Volatile Organic Compounds

Water-based polyurethanes have a low amount of volatile organic compounds, commonly known as VOCs, which is one of their main advantages. These compounds are organic chemicals with a low boiling point and high vapor pressure at room temperature.

They can supply low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the final coating. They also have good surface hardness and excellent performance at low or room temperatures.

Safe to Use

To allow the urethane resin to level and create a film, oil-based polyurethane is made with toxic and highly flammable solvents. The cleaning process is also linked to acute and chronic health issues due to increased exposure to high-odor hydrocarbon solvents.

A water-based polyurethane that is well-engineered has no hazardous chemicals. Therefore, it’s a safe and low volatile compound.

They Don’t Harm the Environment

Water-based polyurethane has an environmentally-friendly manufacturing process. They don’t use chemical compounds such as live isocyanate, o-benzenes, Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), and others that are poisonous and endanger plants and animals living in the environment.

Water-borne polyurethanes also don’t generate a lot of trash and don’t pollute the environment. As a result, in several European nations and the United States, where oil-based polyurethane is prohibited, the use of these urethanes is promoted.

They Are Less Flammable and Can Be Applied To Plastics

Water-borne polyurethanes have low flammability, making them safer to use during application. Some N-Methylpyrrolidone or NMP-containing polyurethane dispersions or PUDs may be more flammable, but most water-based polyurethanes are not flammable as they are NMP-free.

Another benefit of water-borne urethanes is that they do not contain aromatic solvents, making them suitable for use on substrates sensitive to solvents, such as plastic.

It’s A Compatible Substrates and Adheres Without Any Extra Effort

Water-based polyurethane is one of the most versatile compounds. It has a wide range of applications. It can easily bond well with carbon fiber, cement, stone, fiberglass, non-ferrous metal, and wood.

Oil-based polyurethane also sticks to almost everything but not itself. It means you will have to sand between applications to produce a mechanical bond with the next layer.

Consumption Is Free Of Pollution

Polyurethane based on water is a good insulator. Its high level of insulation minimizes the amount of energy required to cool or heat the space. Carbon dioxide emissions are reduced as a result of reduced energy use.

CO2 emissions, which trap heat in our atmosphere and cause global temperatures to rise, are the front runners in driving climate change. Water-based polyurethane is a globally viable product due to its lack of CO2 emissions.

If polyurethane is sprayed on refrigerators, it helps to insulate them, resulting in lower energy consumption. One of the most significant benefits of using water-borne polyurethane is that it is extremely light. Because of its lightweight, it improves fuel efficiency in cars.