Heavy-duty corrosion protection coatings for steel
Complete corrosion protection coatings for steel
Corrosion of steel structures exposed to extreme conditions risks compromised structural integrity, costly repairs, and safety hazards.
Demand for corrosion-resistant coatings is rising amid infrastructure growth, and tightening VOC rules are boosting popularity of water-based and low-solvent coatings.
Standard corrosion protection coatings are a three-layer system: a primer, intermediate, and a protective topcoat. At Covestro we offer solutions for every layer, plus 2-layer coating technologies that don’t compromise long-term protection.
Polyurethane protective topcoats for high-performance corrosion-resistant steel coatings
Topcoats provide UV resistance for corrosion protection metal coatings, protecting the whole system from weathering.
Our solventborne Uralac® CY255 E-70 and Uralac® CY230 E-70 acrylic resins are designed for 2K polyurethane protective topcoats with excellent adhesion across a wide range of substrates.
Uralac® CY255 E-70 delivers superior gloss retention and durability for the most demanding environments, while Uralac® CY230 E-70 offers a more cost-effective option.
Our waterborne solutions for 1K and 2K systems, including NeoCryl® CQ XK-98, Decovery® SP-7450, Bayhydrol® A 2695 /Desmodur® CQ ultra N 7300, deliver corrosion-protective topcoats at lower VOC levels – without sacrificing performance.
At Covestro, we supply solutions for every layer of steel corrosion protection coatings, across solventborne and waterborne formulations. Whichever technology a customer needs, the level of protection doesn't change: we give them the right fit for their process, without a trade-off on performance.
Corrosion protection metal coating intermediate layer solutions
The intermediate coat acts as a barrier layer, adding thickness and promoting intercoat adhesion between the primer and topcoat.
Our Desmodur® E moisture-curing 1K polyurethane systems offer strong adhesion, resistance to swelling and shrinking, and no embrittlement during outdoor weathering.
As a 1K system, there's no mixing and less waste, making it well suited to steel construction, hydraulic structures, dock walls, and marine environments facing atmospheric corrosion.
Primer layers and direct-to-metal solutions for steel corrosion protection coatings
Primers provide the adhesion to the substrate and corrosion protection that anchor the whole coating system.
Our Desmodur® E 1K moisture-curing polyurethane primers support these formulations, curing at room temperature with high impact resistance and tolerating humidity and cold. This makes them well suited to steel construction, hydraulic structures, and marine applications.
Pasquick® 2-layer high solids polyaspartic protective coatings
Pasquick® polyaspartic DTM coatings can reduce the traditional three-coat build to two, requiring only a primer and a Pasquick® layer.
Pasquick® can also be used alone for direct-to-metal polyaspartic coating systems. Fast curing shortens application time and speeds up return to service, without sacrificing long-term protection. Each layer is a 2K coating: when formulated with Desmodur® CQ ultra N 7300, Pasquick® systems can reach up to 48% alternative carbon* content.
Key applications include marine, bridges, building exteriors, and wind turbines.
*Based on C14 ASTM D 6866-16 Method B
Key benefits
- Long-lasting: Proven corrosion protection for steel structures in the harshest environments.
- Versatile: Solvent-borne, waterborne, and polyaspartic options for every layer and need.
- Easy-to-apply options: 1K moisture-curing primers need no mixing, minimizing waste on site.
- Lower-VOC options: Waterborne systems match solventborne protection with lower VOC content.
- Fast-curing options: Pasquick® cuts a coating layer, saving labor and speeding up return to service.
FAQs
How can Pasquick® polyaspartic technology reduce coating process times and operational energy costs?
Pasquick® is a 2-layer system that cures fast and builds a high film in fewer coats than traditional 3-layer coating systems, so applicators can skip a layer without waiting for full intermediate cure between coats.
This cuts total application time and labor, and speeds return to service, without sacrificing protection performance. This is especially valuable for maintenance projects where structures need to go back into operation quickly.
Can two-coat or DTM polyaspartic systems replace conventional three-coat anticorrosion systems without losing durability?
Yes. Performance is equivalent to a traditional three-coat epoxy-based system, just with a faster application time.
Pasquick® DTM formulations pass the same ISO 12944 testing used to validate three-coat systems (1440-hour salt spray, 720-hour condensation), and the technology has over 20 years of proven field performance.
Can waterborne coatings deliver corrosion-protection performance comparable to solventborne systems?
Yes. Waterborne and solventborne topcoats deliver equivalent corrosion protection. Choosing between them comes down to VOC targets and handling preference.
Our waterborne 1K/2K topcoats (NeoCryl® CQ XK-98, Decovery® SP-7450, and Bayhydrol® A 2695 with Desmodur® CQ ultra N 7300) all pass 1440-hour salt spray and 720-hour condensation testing. They match solventborne performance while offering lower VOC levels and, in several cases, partially bio-based content: Decovery® SP-7450 has 39% bio-based content and Desmodur® CQ ultra N 7300 has 68% bio-based content.
Are waterborne topcoats robust enough for high-film-build applications?
Yes. Our waterborne 1K and 2K systems achieve bubble-free dry film thickness above 150 µm via airless application, a film build that is traditionally difficult for waterborne systems to reach without blistering. Drying times remain fast – as little as 30–40 minutes to touch-dry – even in cooler, more humid conditions.
How do Uralac® CY230 E-70 and CY255 E-70 help improve the safety profile of formulations?
Both resins use an advanced, more sustainable initiator technology that removes the H350 hazard classification carried by earlier-generation acrylic resins. This gives formulators and end-users a meaningfully safer handling profile without compromising performance.
