My Epoxy Coating is Turning Yellow, Why and What Can I Do to Prevent it?

The number one cause for epoxy coatings turning yellow is exposure to UV light. Direct sunlight will over a period of time create what is called in the industry “Ambering” or Yellowing” of the surface, also known as polymer degradation. This does not change the protective nature or safety of the surface if being used as kitchen countertops. 

Other reasons for this unwanted effect are age, oxidization, and extreme heat.

Not all epoxies are the same, like most products they vary in quality. The old adage “You get what you pay for!” could not be more apt than in the epoxy coatings industry. The longer the shelf life of epoxy before it is applied to a surface has an effect on the long-term results. Cheaper Chinese products are already pretty old by the time they get to the USA, they are shipped overseas on slow ships, held in customs, and then released to distributors before getting bottled and retailed. Whereas USA-made epoxies are usually much fresher when they are applied on a work site.

Also, the better quality epoxies have U.V. stabilizers added to them, which extends their shelf life. These stabilizers slow down the ambering process but over a long time, all epoxy will amber.

So how do you protect your investment? Like most home improvement products, they all have their pros and cons, the pros of epoxy are great, varied application, ease of use, affordability, food grade, etc. The ambling over time is a can, but if you stored a piece of wood or brick used to build your home and pulled it out of the shed 10 years later, that too would be a different color than those used on the building. Direct sunlight and UV radiation damage all kinds of surfaces. 

There are alternatives when you are looking at flooring products if the ambering is a deal breaker for you, and that is single-component urethanes. iCoat has a “One-Day Stain” system that does a tremendous job protecting and covering concrete floors. It can be refreshed and recolored without a lot of trouble. Plus iCoat’s “Metal Illusion” system for flooring has shown a longevity that will last a long time without an issue and again is easy to clean and maintain.

For more information, contact icoatproducts.com we are more than happy to answer all your questions.