Isofan Marine SKY Clear: Stoppani introduces the first bio-based clearcoat

The full name is Isofan Marine SKY Clear UHS ESS&RE: a bit long, but as we know, when dealing with a product catalog as broad as Stoppani’s, the terms inevitably stack up. However, there is a simpler way to uniquely identify this new polyurethane finish: it is in fact the first bio-based clear coat developed by Lechler for the Stoppani brand.

Isofan Marine SKY Clear: the low-environmental-impact clear coat

The Isofan Marine range includes around 1500 solid colors and 800 metallic colors; within it, you can also find the ESS&RE line, which features Lechler products made with raw materials from renewable sources. It is therefore a selection of marine coating products designed for shipyards and boat owners who want to minimize the environmental impact of recreational boating, in line with the sector’s ecological transition. All of this—as will be seen below—without compromising either the technical performance or the aesthetic appearance of the proposed coating systems.

Isofan Marine SKY Clear is the latest addition to this green line: the two-component ultra-high solid (UHS) polyurethane clear coat features a bio-based content of 30% (according to the ASTM D6866 standard); a portion that is anything but given for a clear, marine-grade product required to withstand harsh sea conditions.

The sustainability of SKY Clear does not stop with the choice of bio-based components. What sets it apart from other clear topcoats is also a low VOC content (volatile organic compounds, carbon-based chemicals that evaporate into the air). Table in hand, the VOC content of the new Stoppani marine finish is only 420 g/l, whereas in the case of the Standard Clear, that value is equal to 540 g/l.

Choosing Isofan Marine SKY Clear therefore means reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30%, thanks in part to the combined use of the dedicated hardener from the ESS&RE line, which is also largely bio-based (up to 44% of the raw materials used).

Green, yet clear and glossy: the technical features of SKY Clear

After all, we are still talking about a yachting finish: beyond sustainability, there are several other aspects to examine, starting with aesthetic appearance. The applied film looks full with high gloss, a wet-look effect, and excellent clarity of the reflected image.

Special attention must also be paid to the application methods. SKY Clear must be applied as a topcoat over properly dried ISOFAN basecoats, with an application that the manufacturer describes as simple and versatile. This makes it a suitable solution even for large surfaces, with fast curing.

With this new addition to the ESS&RE line, Lechler demonstrates once again how it is possible to achieve a high level of sustainability in the yachting sector without compromising results.

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