General performance of generic pre-finished steel top-coats

Plastisols are based on thick film coatings typically between 100 and 200 µm and offer the potential for a very durable and flexible solution with excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance. The thermoplastic nature of plastisols means they can be embossed with a textured pattern to improve appearance and their relative thickness makes them less susceptible to damage.

Polyesters are generally based on low cost thin film coatings typically 25 µm in thickness. These offer limited flexibility and moderate durability when exposed as the top-weathering surface and for this reason they tend to be used for basic wall applications and in drier environments such as those found in Southern Europe. High-build, typically 50 to 60 µm coating thickness product versions are available and these can provide a better performance. Polyesters provide an ideal reverse side and interior coating as the requirements are generally not as severe as the exterior side.

Polyurethanes have similar properties and application to polyesters although with a different resin type they can offer improved durability and appearance with thicker versions providing an improved corrosion resistance.

PVDFs which are often referred to as PVF2 or polyvinylidenefluoride have a good resistance to chalking and gloss reduction, due to the inherent UV resistance of the polymer type. With a coating thickness of typically 25 to 30 µm they offer limited flexibility and are less robust than other topcoats. As a result they tend only to be specified for wall applications