Industrial establishments have to think big about their infrastructure as a means to ensure their productivity and safeguard the bottom line. The application of industrial coatings is one of the best ways to ensure optimum performance by the organization. This is very important for all industrial and commercial establishments, but more so in the state of California where certain laws may have an impact on the way industrial coatings are applied.
Industrial Coatings and the California Law on VOCs
Industrial coatings are solutions that are generally applied to concrete and metal structures to help protect such structures against environmental, mechanical, and even chemical insults. Different providers of industrial coatings in California have different solutions to offer. However, regardless of the type of industrial coatings offered by these California companies, this one is a must: these products should adhere to the state’s law on VOCs or volatile organic compounds.
When it comes to industrial coatings as well as floor coatings, VOCs are a mainstay and can be found in various forms. While the Environmental Protection Agency provides the guidelines on the maximum allowable VOCs per unit of measure, it is the California Air Resources Board that is primarily responsible for the setting of more stringent guidelines that everyone has to adhere to. This is especially true for those in Southern California where air pollution and smog are substantially more severe than the other parts of the state.
For South California, the CARB places the maximum amount of VOCs in industrial coatings at 10%. For the rest of the state, the limit is a bit higher at 25%. It is critical to understand, from the point of view of industrial establishments, that the type of industrial coatings they apply should adhere to the requirements of the law.
Let us now look at the two fundamental types of coatings used in industrial establishments:
Organic Industrial Coatings in California
These are industrial coatings that make use of carbon materials; hence, the name. These typically contain modified or refined petroleum products, a number of solvents or VOCs, fillers, additives, and even pigments. In California, organic industrial coatings can come in the following forms:
Epoxy Coatings
Many California industrial establishments used epoxy coating solutions because of their exceptional chemical, mechanical, and film-building properties. These are preferred over other types of industrial coatings because they don’t take long to dry and cure. When it comes to surface bonding properties, epoxies can be applied to a variety of surfaces including concrete, steel, galvanized iron, aluminum, and even zinc.
These are mostly used in applications wherein maximum protection against moisture, chemicals, fuels, corrosion, abrasion, salt air, water, and normal wear and tear is a must. Epoxy coatings are also resistant against salts, alkali, and even non-oxidizing acids, making them ideal in a number of applications.
Polyurethane Coatings
Another widely-used industrial coating is polyurethane which is a lot similar to epoxies except that these come with highly specialized additives. Polyurethane industrial coatings are preferred by establishments that need excellent protection against the weather, abrasion, corrosion, and chemical exposure.
Alkyd Coatings
These are coatings that incorporate fatty acids to confer flexibility in the application of the coating. Alkyd industrial coatings are typically used in underwater and underground applications. Unfortunately, since alkyds require oxygen to complete the much-needed chemical reaction for a more durable finish, it usually takes a much longer time to dry and cure than other industrial coating applications.
Inorganic Industrial Coatings in California
Compared to organic industrial coatings that contain mostly carbon-based ingredients,
inorganic industrial coatings contain metallic materials or any other inorganic, non-carbon containing products in their formulation. These offer excellent resistance against wear and tear and corrosion. They are also valued for their thermal insulation properties as well as other functional capabilities. While these may not contain VOCs, they do generate emissions that may be released into the environment especially during the application of such coatings. Here are three of the most common types of inorganic industrial coatings used in the state of California.
Ceramic Coatings
Industrial establishments that rely heavily on the integrity of piping systems and storage tanks usually go for ceramic industrial coatings because of the material’s remarkable resistance against the effects of chemicals, UV radiation, water, and moisture. Ceramic industrial coatings are revered for their corrosion and chemical protection, excellent thermal insulation, dimensional and chemical stability, and vastly improved strength and durability. In many cases, these systems can also be used in establishments that depend on high operating temperatures as well as those that have something to do with the management and handling of chemicals.
However, ceramic industrial coatings are generally not advised on structures or components that are constantly subjected to compressive or tensile stress. While strong and durable, ceramic coatings have the tendency to fracture in the face of plastic deformation. This can undermine the integrity of the industrial coating.
Acrylic Coatings
This type of industrial coating is gaining popularity, especially in waterborne 
industrial applications. These coatings typically contain more additives and binders that are specifically designed to meet high-performance standards. Additionally, acrylic industrial coatings contain fewer rheology modifiers, surfactants, and dispersants that may have a negative effect on the ability of the coating to resist corrosion.
Intumescent Coatings
Industries that have high-heat applications and processes will want to use intumescent industrial coatings as these are one of the best when it comes to protecting structures and components against fire damage. When exposed to open flames or extreme heat, intumescent industrial coatings can expand into dense, foam-like layers that serve to insulate the components or structures that they are applied onto. This helps secure the integrity of such components.
Industrial coatings used by establishments in California can come in two general classifications, each one typified by a number of more specific coatings. California industries are, thus, given a number of choices that they can use depending on their specific requirements both to comply with environmental regulations and to ensure the optimal operating performance of their respective establishments.