Heavy earthmoving equipment is designed to take a beating, but backhoes, skid steers and other earthmoving vehicles still require regular maintenance to function properly. The paints and protective coatings applied to the exterior of an earthmoving vehicle are particularly important, and damaged coatings can leave equipment vulnerable to rust and corrosion.

Earthmoving businesses and contractors can choose from a variety of protective coatings, but 2 pack paint (also known as 2K paint) is one of the most practical options. These protective paints are applied using a unique twostage process, creating an extremely durable finish that can withstand the challenging conditions encountered on most work sites.

What are 2 pack paints?

2 pack paints consist of two components - a pigmented base paint, and a transparent, hardening resin. These components are kept separate until they are ready to be used, and for good reason. When they are mixed, a rapid chemical chain reaction occurs, creating a protective coating that hardens and cures extremely quickly.

2 pack paints are available in a variety of formulations, but most 2 pack paints used in heavy industrial applications are either urethane or enamel-based. Urethane-based 2 pack paints are generally more suitable for painting earthmoving equipment.

Why is 2 pack paint suitable for earthmoving equipment?

2 pack paints are used by many industry professionals, including automotive manufacturers and aerospace engineers, to create long-lasting protective coatings. They are especially well suited to earthmoving businesses, and have a number of useful properties when compared to powder coatings and other potential options:

Resistance to harsh conditions

When properly applied by a reputable industrial painting service, a coat of 2 pack paint can withstand just about anything you can throw at it. The specialised hardening resins used make 2 pack paint particularly resistant to scratches, chipping and abrasion damage, which makes them ideal for earthmoving equipment that regularly handles aggregates, grit, and other highly abrasive materials.

2 pack paints are also prized for their weather resistance and can withstand prolonged exposure to wet conditions without bubbling or flaking. Urethane-based 2 pack paints are also resistant to fading and perishing caused by exposure to UV sunlight. Earthmoving vehicles protected by urethane-based 2 pack paints can be operated and stored in unsheltered locations for extended periods.

Vibrant colours

Visibility is essential on any earthmoving project site, and making sure your equipment and vehicles are clearly visible will improve worksite safety.

2 pack paints contain less thinner than other types of industrial paint, which means the pigmented base won't evaporate and lose vibrancy as it cures. Equipment coated with 2 pack paints will be vibrantly coloured and highly visible.

Rapid application

Unlike other industrial paints and powder coatings, 2 pack paints do not need to be heated in order to dry and cure properly. The chemical reaction that occurs when the separate components are mixed causes the finished coating to dry by itself, usually within a matter of hours.

This allows 2 pack paints to be applied very rapidly, once the original, damaged coatings have been removed from your earthmoving equipment. A combined sandblasting and industrial painting service can use 2 pack paints to create a new protective coating very quickly, which minimises downtime and lets your vital equipment get back on the job as quickly as possible.

Eco-friendliness

2 pack paints do contain a number of highly toxic chemicals, and improper use can lead to widespread contamination. Despite this, they are actually a more eco-friendly choice than some other coating options, largely because they do not require any external heat source to cure properly. They also contain less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than many solvent-based coatings.

Many industrial painting services also offer 2 pack paints that use non-isocyanate hardeners. Isocyanates are a particularly toxic class of organic compounds, and using non-isocyanate paints will reduce the risk of contamination while the paint is being applied.

If you have any more questions about 2 pack paints or want to know more about other protective coating options for earthmoving equipment, contact the experts at Blast Pro today.