What Is Epoxy Primer?
Epoxy primer is a type of sealer with a non-porous finish. Base coats of epoxy primer are ideal for steel and other materials. Once you’ve applied a coat of this primer, you can continue to add other undercoat products and paints.
But why use epoxy primer, anyway? This type of primer comes with a host of benefits:
- Excellent adhesion
- Resistance to chemicals, even in wet/humid settings
- Made of zinc phosphate to protect against corrosion
Due to these traits, epoxy primer is often applied in automotive and marine industries. This article will focus on its industrial applications.
Top 10 Epoxy Primers in 2021
Sherwin-Williams Epoxy Primer
3.5 VOC DTM Epoxy Primer
Summary: Sherwin-Williams’ line of low VOC epoxy primers are usable with steel/aluminum substrates. With no induction time, these are good for heavy equipment and fleet refinishing.
Product features:
- Mix and apply with ease
- Adheres strongly to metal
- High-quality rust protection
Dry time: Sandable in one and a half hours with air dry (slightly longer for E2B931), or within 30 minutes with a 180ºF forced heat dry.
Dry film thickness: 2.0-2.5 mils recommended
Product data sheet available here.
Armorseal Water Based Epoxy Primer/Sealer
Summary: This Sherwin-Williams epoxy primer is a water-based option with 38% solids. Consider using it as a barrier coat for pre-painted surfaces, or as a primer on damp concrete.
Product features:
- Dries quickly
- Resistant to abrasion, chemicals, impacts, and more
- Great adhesion
Dry time: Can be touched in one to two hours or recoated between six and 48 hours at 72ºF.
Dry film thickness: Between 2.0 and 3.0 mils recommended.
Product data sheet available here.
PPG Epoxy Primer
AMERCOAT 68 G
Summary: This product is a two-component primer that’s high in solids and rich in zinc. It’s perfect for industries like infrastructure and chemical production.
Product features:
- Works with many different paint systems
- Excellent protection against corrosion
- Can be overcoated quickly
Dry time: Dry to touch in 2.5 hours, with a minimum overcoating interval of four hours.
Dry film thickness: Between 2.0 and 6.0 mils recommended
Product data sheet available here.
AQUAPON WB EP PRIMER
Summary: A water-based epoxy primer, this PPG epoxy primer is an ultra-low VOC choice. Along with metals, it works with substrates like wood and concrete.
Product features:
- An epoxy primer suitable for general purpose use
- Apply to various substrates: steel, aluminum, concrete, and more
- Easy clean-up – just use soap and water
Dry time: Dry to touch in one hour and dry to handle in six hours with a substrate temperature of 77ºF.
Dry film thickness: Between 2.0 and 4.0 mils recommended
Product data sheet available here.
MegaSeal HSPC
Summary: This two-component epoxy primer/sealer boasts zero solvents and reduced topcoat bubbling. It’s ready for use in environments like warehouses and industrial plants.
Product features:
- Easy application
- Can be used on new/refurbished concrete
- Helps flatten rough surfaces
Dry time: Dry to touch in five hours and dry to handle in 24 hours with a substrate temperature of 70ºF.
Dry film thickness: Between 6.0 and 10.0 mils recommended.
Product data sheet available here.
US Coating Epoxy Primer
EpoxyGrip 2000
Summary: The EpoxyGrip 2000 epoxy mastic coating has excellent adhesion and good chemical resistance. It provides great results for everything from power plants to offshore platforms.
Product features:
- Attractive semi-gloss look
- Can be used as a single-coat system in mild-duty settings
- Apply to hand tool cleaned substrates
Dry time: Dry to touch in three hours and dry to handle in eight hours with a surface temperature of 70ºF.
Dry film thickness: Between 4.0 and 6.0 mils recommended
Product data sheet available here.
EpoxyGrip 2030
Summary: Another EpoxyGrip product, this epoxy mastic coating is ideal for low-temperature usage. It works in many of the same settings that EpoxyGrip 2000 does.
Product features:
- Designed to cure in cold settings
- Can be used as a single-coat system in mild-duty settings
- Apply to hand tool cleaned substrates
Dry time: Cure to topcoat in eight hours with a surface temperature of 45ºF.
Dry film thickness: Between 4.0 and 6.0 mils recommended
Product data sheet available here.
Automotive Epoxy Primer
2.1 Epoxy Primer: KEP402-Catalyst, KEP405-Gray, KEP406-Black, KEP407-White
Summary: From TCP Global, this line of epoxy primers has automotive use in mind. These primers are compatible with many different substrates, including plastics.
Product features:
- Compatible with multiple topcoat types
- No lead or chromium
- Excellent adhesion to many substrates
Dry time: Sandable in one to two hours at 70ºF. Higher temperatures will result in a shorter drying time.
Dry film thickness: Between 1.0 and 3.0 mils recommended
Product data sheet available here.
Eastwood Epoxy Primer: 50242ZP-Gray, 50243ZP-Catalyst
Summary: Eastwood, which specializes in supplies for DIY auto repair, sells this primer line. It can work as either a primer or a sealer, depending on your needs.
Product features:
- High adhesion/corrosion resistance
- Dries fast
- Applicable to various substrates – steel, aluminum, fiberglass, etc.
- Made in the USA
Dry time: This primer can be topcoated between 30 minutes and five days.
Dry film thickness: 1.0 mils recommended
Product data sheet available here.
2K AeroSpray Epoxy Primer
Summary: This Eastwood automotive epoxy primer offers a high-quality epoxy primer in spray-can form. The results are as reliable as those you’d expect from more traditional methods.
Product features:
- A two-component coating – no paint gun required
- Highly durable epoxy primer
- Sprays just like a paint gun
Dry time: This primer will cure fully in 12 hours at 68ºF.
Dry film thickness: About 2.8 mil per spray pass recommended
Product data sheet available here.
Now that you’ve had a chance to read up on some of the best epoxy primers on the market, why not keep going? Get even more information about industrial coatings – check out our latest articles.