PPG introduces scratch-resistant topcoat for prefinished wood floors

Proprietary UV resin, nanotechnology help wood floors look newer longer

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 10, 2010 – PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) has introduced CLARITAGE(TM) Extra anti-scratch topcoat, a factory finish for wood floors that helps to keep them looking newer longer than competing products.

Randy Brown, PPG technology manager for UV flooring in North America, said Claritage Extra anti-scratch topcoats are based on new PPG proprietary ultraviolet-curable resins and nanotechnology that make them resistant to scratches and stains, enabling them to help wood floors retain their original gloss longer than is possible with competing wood floor coatings.

“In standardized wear testing against 14 competing products, Claritage Extra topcoats remained scratch-resistant after 3,000 cycles of abrasive scrubbing, while the next-best competitor failed after 1,200 cycles,” Brown said. “The topcoat achieved similar results in testing for gloss retention and resistance to stains from common household materials such as shoe polish, nail polish, mustard, iodine, food color, dyes and colored markers.”

Brian Knapp, PPG market manager for UV flooring in North America, said Claritage Extra topcoats are a major advance in wood floor coatings. “For several years, our customers have told us that better scratch resistance is a top priority. We worked closely with several of them to perfect the technology.”

In addition to scratch and stain resistance, Brown said Claritage Extra topcoats feature added clarity to highlight wood’s natural grain patterns. “To increase durability, coating manufacturers typically formulate finishes with additives that can make them look cloudy. We eliminated that problem by basing Claritage Extra topcoats on proven PPG nanoparticle technology. In fact, these coatings are an extension of PPG nanotechnologies that already have achieved commercial success in anti-scratch automotive and colorful consumer electronics coatings,” he said.

About PPG
PPG Industries’ vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Founded in 1883, the company serves customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, PPG operates in more than 60 countries around the globe. Sales in 2009 were $12.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.