Impact Resistance Testing of Polyaspartic

The impact resistance of polyaspartic is its core advantage over traditional brittle materials such as epoxy resin, making it particularly suitable for applications subject to frequent mechanical impacts—such as industrial floors, mining equipment, and logistics sorting centers.

Standardized Laboratory Test Methods

1. Falling Ball Impact Test (Normal Impact)

Standard: ASTM D2794 (U.S. Standard)

Method: A steel ball of specified mass (0.5–5 kg) is dropped freely from a height of 0.3–2 m onto the coating surface. The test observes whether cracking or delamination occurs and determines the critical failure energy (J).

Polyaspartic results:

Note: The impact energy of a 1 kg steel ball dropped from 1 m is approximately 10 J.

2. Drop-Weight Impact Test (Controllable Energy Impact)

Standards: ASTM D7136 (high-energy impact), EN 13596 (Europe)

Equipment: Programmable drop-weight impact tester (impact head diameter 12.7–25.4 mm)

Key parameters:

Ultimate failure energy: impact energy (J) at which the coating cracks

Energy absorption ratio: proportion of energy absorbed by elastic deformation (%)

Polyaspartic data:

2 mm thick coating: ultimate failure energy ≥ 35 J

Energy absorption ratio > 85% (epoxy resin < 40%)

Dynamic Impact and Fatigue Testing

1. Repeated Impact Fatigue Test

Method: A 1 kg steel ball is dropped from 0.5 m (5 J) repeatedly on the same point (100–1000 times).

Evaluation: Changes in surface dent depth and whether the coating debonds from the substrate.

Polyaspartic advantage: After 1000 impacts, dent depth remains stable (< 0.8 mm) with no interlayer delamination (epoxy resin cracks after ~50 impacts).

2. Low-Temperature Bend Test after Impact

Procedure:

Freeze specimen at −40 °C for 24 h;

Immediately perform a 15 J falling ball impact;

Bend to 180° (ASTM D522 conical mandrel bend) after impact.

Result: Polyaspartic shows no cracking after low-temperature impact plus bending (epoxy resin fractures into pieces).

Extreme Condition Simulation Tests

1. High-Temperature Impact Resistance (80–120 °C)

Method: Preheat specimen to target temperature, then immediately perform a 10 J falling ball impact.

Data comparison:

2. Impact after Chemical Immersion

Method: Immerse specimen in acid (10% H₂SO₄), alkali (10% NaOH), or diesel for 7 days → rinse and dry → perform a 15 J impact.

Result: Polyaspartic shows no crack propagation in the impact area; strength retention after immersion > 95%.

Field Verification Methods

1. On-Site Heavy Object Drop Test

Procedure: Drop a solid metal block (e.g., 5 kg) from 2 m onto a completed polyaspartic floor.

Acceptance criteria:

Grade A: dent ≤ 1 mm, no cracks

Grade B: dent ≤ 2 mm, no cracks outside the impact point

2. Forklift Collision Simulation

Method: A fully loaded forklift (1–3 tons) impacts a wall corner/column protected by the coating at 5 km/h.

Polyaspartic protection effect: Coating’s elastic buffer absorbs > 70% of the impact energy; concrete substrate remains undamaged.

Mechanism of Impact Resistance

1. Molecular-Level Energy Dissipation Mechanism

2. Microstructural Advantages

High elongation at break (> 300%): stretches to several times its length without fracture, preventing brittle failure on impact.

Low glass transition temperature (Tg < −40 °C): remains elastic at low temperatures, avoiding brittle cracking.

Microphase-separated structure: hard segments form physical crosslinks to resist impact; soft segments provide deformation capacity.

Key Engineering Selection Criteria

• Heavy impact environments (foundry workshops, unloading zones): ultimate failure energy ≥ 25 J plus no cracks after −40 °C impact.
• Dynamic fatigue environments (automated sorting lines): ≤ 1 mm dent after 100 × 5 J impacts.
• Corrosive environments (chemical plants): ≥ 90% impact strength retention after acid/alkali immersion.

Impact Resistance Design Logic of Polyaspartic

Through energy-absorbing molecular design and dynamically resilient structural architecture, polyaspartic converts impact energy into reversible molecular chain deformation rather than material failure. Its performance surpasses that of conventional polymers and approaches the impact resistance of metals. On a per-thickness basis, its energy absorption efficiency is about three times that of steel, making it an ideal protective coating for extreme impact environments.

Feiyang has been specializing in the production of raw materials for polyaspartic coatings for 30 years and can provide polyaspartic resins, hardeners and coating formulations.
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