From Arkema:
Stegeman Coliseum is the home of the University of Georgia basketball and gymnastics teams. It is also a landmark on the Athens, Georgia campus because of its dome-shaped roof. Recently, the white 130,000-square-foot roof was dulling as a result of airborne pollutants that were embedding in the roof.
To help solve the problem, university officials brought in Patrick L. Downey, president of Merik, Inc., a roofing consulting firm based in Marietta, GA. According to Downey, the principal problem was a breakdown of the existing acrylic coating, along with dirt and mildew build up and minor chalking.
Desired Longer Service Life
When it came to the selection of a coating system for the roof, Downey said the primary concern was a desire for a longer service life. The acrylic coatings that had been applied during previous restorations were expected to last five to seven years, but began deteriorating after only two to three years.
“Good compatibility between the new coating and the existing coating was also important,” he adds. “So, as part of our due diligence, we conducted adhesion tests on the roof using a number of coatings that incorporated new water-based technology.”
Selected as the topcoat was ReflectiClean? coating from ER Systems, a single component, waterborne elastomeric coating that offers excellent color retention and fade resistance as well as a 15-year warranty.
Would Use New Coating Again
The coating is based on Kynar Aquatec®, a new water-based, low-VOC PVDF fluoropolymer technology developed by Arkema Inc. to deliver the same durability and performance as Kynar 500® PVDF resin-based coatings.
However, rather than requiring high temperature factory baking, coatings based on Kynar Aquatec® cure at ambient temperatures, meaning they can be field applied to a variety of substrates, including metal, PVC, SPF, concrete and wood, and as a finish coat over acrylic basecoats.
“This was our first experience with this coating, and found it to be an acceptable option for future work. We would have no hesitation using it again, especially in projects that require a high end coating system,” Downey states.
New Topcoat Easy to Apply
Restoration of the roof was handled by M. Jordan Roofing of Manchester, GA. Mike Hughes, Jordan Roofing’s project manager, reports that this was his first major use of the new topcoat. “We had applied the coating before, but only in small areas and primarily over painted metal roofs. This is the first time we applied it onto such a large area.”
While he notes that this was his first experience with the coating, it will probably not be his last. “From an applicator’s point of view, I would use this coating again because it was so easy to work with. It mixed well and sprayed well. Plus, there were no problems with viscosity. It was very consistent.”
About Arkema
A world-class chemical concern, Arkema combines three strategically related, integrated businesses: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products. With operations in more than 40 countries and 15,200 employees, the company reported revenue of €5.7 billion. Leveraging six research centers in France, the United States and Japan and internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in each of its principal markets.
Arkema is present in the United States through its affiliate Arkema Inc., headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Arkema Inc. employs 2,500 people, operates 16 production facilities, and accounts for 25% of global revenues.
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Kynar 500® and Kynar Aquatec® are registered trademarks of Arkema Inc.
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