Since I happen to distribute a polyurethane product (called PolyWhey, made by Vermont Natural Coatings), I’ll do my best to explain “What is Polyurethane?”. This is a very broad question, but since polyurethane is pretty much in everything we own (odds are that you’re sitting on polyurethane right now and clicking with it too!), it’s worth knowing a bit about it.
Without getting too complex (after all, I’m not a chemist), polyurethane is a very versatile chemical compound which can have many different physical characteristics. A chemist can formulate his polyurethane to be flexible, hard, squishy, sticky or a combination of any of these and more. It can be made into a foam, a liquid or a solid. Examples of polyurethane in building are: foam insulation, construction adhesives, wood coatings, etc. By applying a professional-grade polyurethane product on your wood, you’re protecting your wood with what is essentially a highly durable, wear resistant film which will provide water, chemical and wear protection for your wood for a number of years depending on usage and maintenance patterns.
When working with a polyurethane product that isn’t cured (like a wood coating in liquid form), there will be an off-gassing process which will release chemicals in the air, this is why it’s important to choose a low-VOC coating without carcinogens (formaldehyde) or mutagens (N-Methylpyrrolidone), such as (CAUTION: shameless product plug coming up) PolyWhey. Oil based polyurethane products are typically much higher in VOC content, difficult to clean up and flammable, however many waterborne coatings contain the harmful chemicals mentioned above and let’s face it, many of them don’t have the application characteristics of the oil-based finishes (read: they don’t look as nice).
However, the waterborne technologies are improving, and I’m very excited to be introducing PolyWhey to the market for that reason. From the feedback I’ve received from floor refinishers and painters, PolyWhey is the real deal. It flows, levels and builds like an oil-based coating yet it dries quickly, it isn’t toxic (no, don’t drink it) and it won’t catch fire if someone carelessly disposes of the product.
Happy Coating!
Karl Redekopp
Global Access
Global Access
Vermont Natural Coatings is now available at Greenworks Building Supply
