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Epoxy Paint or Urethane Paint? Which is Better?

Epoxy Paint or Urethane Paint? Which is Better?
Epoxy and urethane refer to the types of resins. Epoxy paint and urethane paint are typically 2-part coating products that are often used in industrial environments or for Original Equipment Manufacturer (“OEM”) applications where durability and chemical resistance is required. Urethane coatings and epoxy coatings share many similarities but also some differences. Often they will be used in conjunction as part of an overall system depending on what needs to be painted.

Epoxy paint and urethane paint are typically 2-part systems involving a Part A (resin) and Part B (catalyst or hardener). The correct ratio of Part A and Part B depends on the particular product and is often sold as premeasured kits. The most common ratios are 4:1 or 1:1, but it varies. The A and B parts are mixed before use. Once mixed, the paint will start to dry and you will have a limited amount of time to paint (this is often called “pot life”).

Both epoxy paint and urethane paint typically will dry very hard and offer a high degree of water, chemical, abrasion and impact resistance.

Epoxy paint tends to be thicker (higher build) and do a better job of filling cracks and surface imperfections. Epoxy resins also offer excellent adhesion to most surfaces and tend to be more forgiving over less-than-ideal prepared substrates. For this reason, epoxy coatings are preferred for use as primers over ferrous and non-ferrous metals, concrete, and masonry surfaces. Epoxy primer also tends to form a very rust-inhibitive base. Epoxy coatings can also be used in immersion applications. However, Epoxy paints are sensitive to UV light and cannot be used for exterior topcoat applications. The epoxy coating will chalk and fade when exposed to UV light.

Urethane paints are thinner than epoxy paints, but are generally more resistant to chemicals, abrasion and impact and perform as a more durable coating. Urethane paint is also UV resistant and can be used as an exterior topcoat. Urethane paint cannot be used for immersion service.

Oftentimes, an epoxy primer is used underneath a urethane paint topcoat. The urethane topcoat protects the epoxy from UV light, while the epoxy primer provides a very strong and forgiving base coat that adheres well to the underlying substrate. This epoxy/urethane system leverages the strengths of each paint type.

Both epoxy paint, epoxy primer, and urethane paint are fairly technical coatings. Care must be used in the application as well as determining the proper preparation and products to use based on the substrates and application requirements. There are many different types of epoxy and urethane coatings. Contact MyPerfectColor support for help in determining the best products to use for your application.

With more than 250,000 colors, MyPerfectColor offers the largest selection of colors anywhere including difficult to match industry standard colors such as Pantone, RAL, Federal Standard and Munsell, matches of many powder coats including Tiger Drylac and IFS Coatings as well as matches of any major paint brands including Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr and much more. MyPerfectColor will also precisely match the color and sheen of specific parts, samples or production standards if you need touch up paint.

TEST DATAAliphatic Acrylic UrethanePolyamide Epoxy
Flexibility (ASTM D1737)Pass 1/4” MandrelPass 3/16” Mandrel
Sag Resistance (w/-90B)Passes 8+ mils
Sag Resistance (w/-91B)Passes 8+ mils
Sag Resistance (w/92B)Passes 16+ mils
Dry Heat Resistance300 °F300 °F
Wet Heat Resistance125 °F150 °F
Adhesion (ASTM D3359)Pass 5BPass 5B
Accelerated Weathering (ASTM G53)1000 Hours 1 coat V150 Primer, 2 coats V500
95% Gloss Retention
< 1.5 DE Color Change (CMC)
Steam ResistanceYes
Humidity (ASTM D4585)(2 coats over V150 – 1000 Hours)
Face Corrosion: None
Face Blistering: None
Rating: 10, Rust: 0.00%
Salt Spray (ASTM B117)400 Hours (1 coat V150 Primer, 2 coats V500)
Rust Breakthrough: 10 Rating
Rust Area: 0.01%		(2 Coats
over V150 (1000 Hours)
Face Corrosion: None
Face Blistering: None
Rating: 10, Rust: 0.00%
Abrasion Resistance (ASTM D4060) Taber (CS-17 Wheel, 1000g load, 1000 cycles)44 mg. loss
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE GUIDE (NON-IMMERSION)Aliphatic Acrylic UrethanePolyamide Epoxy
Fresh WaterExcellentExcellent
Salt WaterExcellentExcellent
AcidsExcellentGood
AlkalisExcellentGood
SolventsExcellentExcellent
FuelExcellentGood
Acidic Salt SolutionsExcellentExcellent
Alkaline Salt SolutionsExcellentExcellent
Neutral Salt SolutionsExcellentExcellent


*MyPerfectColor uses proprietary paints to create or match any color imaginable. MyPerfectColor has matched the colors on this page based on the color specifications of the original. Select a color to see MyPerfectColor's duplication of the colors you desire. Please note that since the paint used to match this color is unique to MyPerfectColor, the finish of the paint may vary from the original. Please note that, other than RAL and Pantone, MyPerfectColor is not offering the actual branded color or paint product for sale and has no affiliation with the color-referenced brands. MyPerfectColor reference to any trademark is for color comparison only. On-screen and printed color representations may vary from actual paint colors. The actual paint color will also vary depending on the specific paint product, application method, gloss level, film variance, surface substrate, age and light source. Please note on small batch size orders, the potential variation of colors is increased.