The Environmentally Responsible Choice
Super Hero, Super Durable?
When to use a Super Durable Powder Coating
Tough, durable, strong and steadfast are common traits associated with all manner of super heroes, but they’re also commonly associated with super durable powder coatings too.
High performance, Super Durable Polyester powder coatings are actually designed to have super hero qualities – well at least when you compare them with a standard polyester powder coating!
Used regularly on exterior applications like commercial store front, windows, doors and low rise curtain wall, super durables are also often the choice for interior applications where conditions are extreme or stressful, or it’s a high profile project where the added weathering, on the inside of a window frame for example, is a definite bonus. Check out 111 57th in Manhattan, NY and 9th and Lenora in Seattle, WA as prime examples of where a high performance Fluoropolymer was used on the exterior curtain wall and a super durable polyester was used on the interior.
111 57th, NYC features IFS 400SD on the interior curtain wall
Marvelous performance
Super Durable Polyesters will meet and exceed the performance requirements of the AAMA 2604 coating specification. This includes holding color to within 5DE over 5 years of continuous Florida weathering testing, 1500 hours of salt spray testing and performing to very high levels in ASTM chemical tests. Though the AAMA weathering test – which is really looking at color and gloss retention – is a five year test, when applied by a registered applicator to architectural aluminum, IFS 400SD, the IFS superior super durable actually comes with a ten year warranty on exterior applications, to hold color and gloss to within the same AAMA 2604 parameters.
With this in mind, it’s easy to see why Super Durables are the obvious choice for many applications in commercial, residential, retail, monumental, mixed use and more.
Where else can Super Durables pack a punch worthy of a super hero?
When it comes to their environmental credentials, super durable powders take home the cape, the shield and the bat mobile. Especially when you compare them with their more dastardly high performance liquid paint competitors. IFS 400SD will deliver all the incredible environmental benefits that powder coatings are known for, including no solvents and therefore negligible VOCs, no chrome primer required, no toxic waste/landfill created during application, and an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). That’s green to hulk-like proportions. In a good way!
Talking of green, Super Durables are available in a vast array of colors and special effects, including solid colors, metallic/mica shades, textures and many special effects such as veins and even clear coats. In fact, the color, gloss and special effect range is significantly better than a Fluoropolymer powder (or liquid!), as some of these special effects can affect weathering capability in fluoropolymer technology. The icing on the cake? They are also extremely competitively priced and offer excellent value for money.
Though they don’t have the extended life of a superior performance Fluoropolymer powder coating, which meet and exceed AAMA 2605, Super Durables certainly pack a protective punch. Applied at 2-3 mils they also offer excellent film thickness and protection from the elements.
Super Durables certainly have their place in the high performance architectural coating world – no cape needed.
For more information contact flevin@ifscoatings.com