# Assessment of the durability of polyurea resin coatings against selected aggressive solutions in the sewage infrastructure environment

**Authors:** Barbara Francke, Hanna Michalak, Dorota Kula, Gabriela Rutkowska, Wojciech Zięba, Bartłomiej Salata

PMC · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-37921-0 · Scientific Reports · 2026-01-31

## TL;DR

This study evaluates how aggressive chemical solutions affect the durability of polyurea resin coatings used in wastewater treatment plants.

## Contribution

The study introduces new empirical data on the effects of specific chemical concentrations on polyurea coatings' functional properties.

## Key findings

- Phenol solutions caused significant soaking, hardness reduction, and tensile strength loss in polyurea coatings.
- Urea solutions led to notable decreases in hardness and tensile strength.
- Sulphuric acid solutions caused minor changes in coating properties within tested concentrations.

## Abstract

This article presents the results of a study on how selected chemical solutions affect the durability of specific properties of polyurea resin coatings used for surface protection of concrete in wastewater treatment plants. The solutions tested included sulphuric acid at 1% and 10%, phenol at concentrations of 0.1% and 1%, and urea at 3%. Three randomly chosen coatings were treated with these solutions for 7 and 28 days. After treatment, changes in appearance, weight, hardness, and tensile strength were assessed. Tests were performed using our proprietary methods and in accordance with the standards EN 868 and EN 527-3. It was observed that phenol solutions had the most pronounced negative impact on all polyurea resin coatings, causing significant soaking (up to 30%) and reductions in hardness (up to 40 Shore units) and tensile strength (up to 80%). The 3% urea solution led to a decrease in hardness (up to 17 Shore units) and resulted in notable reductions in tensile strength (ranging from 10% to 30%). Sulphuric acid solutions within the tested concentration range (1% to 10%) caused minor changes in the coatings’ functional properties, including a 10–30% decrease in tensile strength and up to a 14% reduction in hardness.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** sulphuric acid (PubChem CID 1118), phenol (PubChem CID 996), urea (PubChem CID 1176)

## Full-text entities

- **Chemicals:** polyurea (MESH:C045786)

## Full text

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## Figures

9 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12917115/full.md

## References

9 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12917115/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12917115