Color directly on metal

In coating, shortening the work process is not only a matter of saving time and money, but often a technological requirement. This is particularly important in industry. In this case, it is difficult to achieve the comfort of multi-layer coating. The costs of such an operation call the profitability of production into question. On the other hand, the manufacturer must guarantee the quality and appearance of the coating on the manufactured element or machine.

All kinds of steel structures, machine housings and installations require fast and high-quality painting. Such a coating should not only provide an aesthetic, distinctive appearance, but also protect these objects from corrosion, despite the passage of time and exposure to mechanical damage.

The key is a good paint

The simplest solution is to use all kinds of primer-enamels. This is a combination of topcoats with an anti-corrosion primer function. However, there are several important limitations here. If we have one-component paints, in order to maintain the durability of the coating, we should ensure that the coating is properly cured - which is usually guaranteed by high temperatures. It is difficult to achieve such conditions, especially in small industries or when painting large elements.

The solution is to use two-component paints. However, here you should bear in mind the limitations related to the pot life of the ready-to-spray mixture and that the unused mixture must be disposed of. However, the result is a high-quality coating that is resistant to weather, chemicals and mechanical stress.

Another limitation worth mentioning is the colour scheme. Primers are usually ready-made products in a specific range of colours.

What if you were to combine acrylic with primer?

There are complex mixing systems for two-component paints that offer an almost unlimited range of colours (much wider than the RAL colour palette) and a high durability of the coating. Unfortunately, such paints do not have the properties that allow them to be applied directly to metal. However, paint manufacturers have found a way around this: they offer special additives that turn two-component acrylic paint into a primer with anti-corrosive properties. An example of such a product is DTM (CP 370 by Profix). Adding a special agent to acrylic paint allows it to be applied directly to metal.

This way, we get the advantages of two products - high-quality, high-yield acrylic varnish and the possibility of applying it to the surface without the need for additional corrosion protection.

What makes the use of such a product stand out?

First of all, it is easy to apply to any steel or galvanised surface. The surface preparation procedure before application is simple. The tasks that await us before applying the protective layer include cleaning the surface of chemicals and dust. Make sure that the surface is reasonably even, as this will affect the structure of the final coating. Choosing a colour is very easy because we have a whole range of acrylic colours (Profix brand acrylic) that we select based on the colour documentation. Thanks to this solution, we save time by reducing the number of layers of varnish applied, while having a repeatable and wide range of colours.

How does it work?

The basis of this solution is an additive that is supposed to give acrylic individual properties. Thanks to the converter (e.g. DTM by Profix), it is possible to combine it with a hardener, giving it lasting protection. After hardening, the combined ingredients form a compact and durable coating with high adhesion to the substrate. The resulting structure is connected by strong chemical bonds, which results in isolation from external factors. An interesting effect that can be achieved is a matt structure, the intensity of which depends on us, thanks to the appropriate additive (e.g. Profix matting resin 003). By using matting resin, we achieve a remarkable structure that is not available in conventional primer-topcoats.

How to apply?

A standard HVLP or RP spray gun with a 1.2-1.5 mm nozzle is used to apply primer and top coats. After adding DTM, the finished paint mixture retains optimal application properties for about four hours, so we can easily cover large areas without worrying about the paint thickening quickly.