Frequently Asked Questions about Our Products

Sprayed cork is relatively new to the U.S. home improvement scene. As such, it’s common for homeowners and business owners to have questions. If you don’t see your question answered below, please get in touch with ThermaShield via our Contact Us page.

What is polyurea?

Polyurea, a multi-ingredient chemical formulation, is available in 55-gallon drum sets or 5-gallon pails. A chemical reaction occurs when a technician mixes the two compounds (part A and part B) together. Part A is a liquid isocyanate, while part B is a pigmented amine resin blend. The instant chemical reaction turns the compounds into a solid. Although polyurea dries quickly, it takes up to 48 hours to cure. A tehcnician can adjust the curing times and physical properties by tweaking the specific formulation.

What should I know about the technical aspects of polyurea formulations?

Polyurea formulations combine the resins of polyurethanes with an epoxy. They have better impact resistance compared to epoxy. In addition, they have better chemical and solvent resistance than polyurethanes.

An auto-catalytic reaction between isocyanate and amine resin forms the polyureas. This results in the following three qualities, which make polyureas unique compared to other polymers:

1. Reactivity: Polyurea reacts at the same speed regardless of temperature.
2. Ambient humidity: Dew points can affect the reaction, but ambient humidity will not have any effect on the application or reactivity.
3. Curing time: With polyureas, the treated surfaces can be used within 12 hours of application. Compare this to polyurethanes, which may require up to 14 days.

How do professionals apply polyurea coatings?

Polyureas can only be applied by trained technicians who use professional-grade equipment, including plural component portioning equipment. The technicians use transfer pumps to bring the materials to the application machine. The application machine itself has two portioning pumps—one for the isocyanate and the other for the amine resin. This keeps the materials separate until the technician sprays them together in a 1:1 ratio. The application process may also include use of pneumatic, electric, or electric-hydraulic machines.

The two heated hoses, attached to the machine, heat the materials to a range of 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. They maintain this base temperature until the technician applies the materials with a spray gun. The spray gun has impingement mixing technology, as well as a purge function, to ensure the materials fully exit the gun.

In addition to this specialized equipment, professional applicators use auxiliary equipment. This may include mobile generators, large-capacity air compressors, and mobile spray rigs.