The Value of Self-Healing Primers for Bathroom Walls and Ceilings
The concept of self-healing paints and primers is not something new to the coatings industry. Many different markets put significant resources into the research of various types of self-healing mechanisms for paints, whether for automobiles, highly technological medical devices, or exterior building facades. In a previous blog post, we explored the concept and general advantages of self-healing paints. Today, we take a look at the specific advantages that self-healing primers and paints have to offer residential and household bathrooms.
Moisture: The Biggest Challenge Facing Bathroom Paints and Primers
Household bathrooms pose many difficulties to paints, primers, and coatings, but moisture and water vapor are top of the list. Bathrooms tend to experience a regular cycle of wet moisture followed by dry air. As moisture gets absorbed within the paint, it causes the film to expand, and when the room dries, it contracts. This cycle weakens the adhesion of the paint film, causing a number of problems, such as blistering, peeling, and bubbling. That moisture and weakening paint adhesion may also encourage the growth of mold, which causes health problems in addition to unsightly stains that are difficult and even costly to remove.
How Self-Healing Primers Help
Self-healing primers function exactly as they sound. Rather than experiencing less and less adhesion over time, these coatings instead repair the weakened bonds between the molecules caused by moisture as soon as they are dry. Not only do they maintain their adhesion to the substrate, like a bathroom wall or ceiling, they reverse bubbling or blistering damage. This makes them excellent for painting unventilated areas near water piping, around showers and tubs, and ceiling corners. That stronger adhesion and ability to repair itself also helps prevent mold growth, and overall preserves the appearance of the coating while protecting the substrate underneath from damage due to moisture.
Gellner Industrial: Premiere Manufacturer of Water-Based Polymers for Paints and Primers
Gellner Industrial, LLC has developed a wide variety of acrylic polymers used in inks, paints, primers, adhesives, and other coatings, including a recent addition to our portfolio, a polymer for use in self-healing primers. For more information about this, or any of our products, don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions or to request a free sample.
