4 Important Considerations When Using An Acid-Cat Coating

Are you aware that Acid-Cat Coating Systems have significant health and usability issues, and can also develop long-term durability problems?

It's important to be aware of the health risks that are posed by AC Coating Systems.

Once sprayed ACs give off a product called formaldehyde that can be linked to respiratory problems.

A number of countries in Europe have already banned any furniture finished in AC due to health risks.

When using an AC Coating system, it is essential that the sprayer wears the correct PPE and has a ventilated extracting booth in order to safely spray this material.

It is also worth pointing out that with an increase in people researching formaldehyde online, it has developed some serious negative connotations attached to it.

Due to the resins used in this range of materials, ACs can and normally will yellow over time, whether this is a clear lacquer or pigmented topcoats.

The yellowing process can be sped up with exposure to a lot of UV light.

To avoid the issues and potential for yellowing, a water-based or polyurethane acrylic system could be considered.

Much like any 2-part coat, once catalysed the product is given a pot life. Often this is far shorter than expected or required which results in costly waste.

If the paint is not flushed out of the coating system in time, this can lead to lead to a build-up in the gun and/or on the tip, blocking the lines essential for production.

The best solution for issues surrounding pot life is to calculate the correct amount of paint required prior. This will therefore minimise wastage as only the correct amount required for that day has been mixed.

2-Pack products are designed to dry fast and provide a high level of scratch resistance, however, in certain environments, the AC coating can be a little brittle.

If joints on a kitchen door move due to humidity in a modern-day kitchen, the coatings to too brittle to move with the substrate and therefore likely to crack.

If this occurs, it leads to an unnecessary amount of costly and timely on-site touching up.

To reduce the likeliness of this occurring, a water-based coating should be considered as it provides far more elasticity and is far more likely to move with the timber as opposed to cracking.